Mutual fund performance: a market efficiency perspective. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verheyden, Tim; De Moor, Lieven; Vanpée, Rosanne
• Is Part Of: Investment analysts journal. Volume 45:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Mutual fund performance -- time-varying weak-form market efficiency -- adaptive markets hypothesis; G10 -- G12 -- G14; Investment analysis -- Periodicals; Investments -- Africa, Southern -- Periodicals; Finance -- Periodicals; Finance; Investment analysis; Investments; Africa, Southern; Periodicals; 332.605
• DOI: 10.1080/10293523.2015.1125058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2077-0227

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study reconciles existing literature on stock market efficiency and mutual fund performance by developing a framework to test whether fund managers are able to exploit market inefficiencies. We find a positive relationship between alpha and weak-form market efficiency. Most funds are unable to outperform the market systematically, although a few are able to exploit relatively inefficient markets. Top performing funds are characterised by a better management of downside risk in times of market distress, whilst simultaneously exploiting learning effects when markets return to equilibrium. By conditioning fund performance on the state of the underlying market, we propose a conditional alpha ratio, which helps to better understand fund performance and can improve the fund selection process for investors.