Option trading and individual investor performance

Authors
Publication date 2009
Journal Journal of Banking & Finance
Volume | Issue number 33 | 4
Pages (from-to) 731-746
Organisations
  • Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) - Amsterdam Business School Research Institute (ABS-RI)
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of option trading on individual investor performance. The results show that most investors incur substantial losses on their option investments, which are much larger than the losses from equity trading. We attribute the detrimental impact of option trading on investor performance to poor market timing that results from overreaction to past stock market returns. High trading costs further contribute to the poor returns on option investments. Gambling and entertainment appear to be the most important motivations for trading options while hedging motives only play a minor role. We also provide strong evidence of performance persistence among option traders.

Keywords: Option trading; Individual investor performance; Investor sentiment; Performance persistence; Internet brokerage

JEL classification codes: G11; G12; G14; G24

Document type Article
Published at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2008.11.005
Permalink to this page
Back