Publication Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

1-2014

Abstract

Are anomalies strongest when limits of arbitrage are widely considered to be greatest? We empirically explore this theoretically deducted prediction. We first identify, categorize, and replicate 100 anomalies in the cross-section of expected equity returns. We then comprehensively study their dynamic interaction with popular proxies for time-varying market-level arbitrage conditions. Our findings reveal a surprisingly weak role of commonly employed measures of market-wide arbitrage risks and constraints. Even though this “big picture” evidence is by no means conclusive, our findings might potentially be best interpreted as supporting the growing literature which uncovers some shortcomings of the limits to arbitrage argument.

Keywords

anomalies, limits to arbitrage, return predictability, market frictions, behavioral finance

Discipline

Corporate Finance | Portfolio and Security Analysis

First Page

1

Last Page

41

Copyright Owner and License

Author

Comments

Financial support from the BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Centre at SMU is gratefully acknowledged

Share

COinS