Question
Stock indices, such as the S&P 500, are typically value-weighted. In other words, the weight a firm is assigned in the index depends on its
Stock indices, such as the S&P 500, are typically "value-weighted." In other words, the weight a firm is assigned in the index depends on its market capitalization. If firm A has twice the market capitalization of firm B, then firm A is assigned twice the weight of firm B in the index.
Recently, a new product known as a "fundamentals index" has emerged on the financial scene. With fundamentals indices, the weight a firm is assigned in the index depends on some measure of fundamentals, such as sales. So, if firm A has twice the sales of firm B, then firm A is assigned twice the weight of firm B in the index.
Advocates of fundamentals indices argue that, if markets are inefficient, these indices will earn higher average returns than traditional value-weighted indices. Can you see the argument for why this would be true?
b) A closed-end fund is a portfolio of assets that issues a fixed number of shares. Closed-end fund shares are not redeemable from the fund for the underlying portfolio, and are instead listed and traded on a stock exchange. The market price of a closed- end fund is usually lower than the net asset value of the fund's portfolio (i.e., the total value of all assets in the portfolio). One explanation for the closed-end fund discount is noise trader risk.
What are the two key assumptions in deriving noise trader risk.
c) A recent study by Frazzini and Pedersen (2013)that an investment strategy that goes long low beta stocks and short high beta stocks generates a positive alpha with respect to the Fama-French three-factor model. However, if momentum factor by Carhart (1997) is added in the analysis, the alpha of the long-short strategy decreases and becomes statistically insignificant.
What are the implications of this finding for the returns of this betting-against-beta strategy?
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a The argument for why fundamentals indices could earn higher average returns than traditional valueweighted indices is based on the assumption that markets are inefficient meaning that stock prices m...Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions
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