In two unrelated papers, we examine different aspects of mutual fund performance and other issues. In the first chapter, we look at exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and how they differ from index funds in performance and tracking error. Using daily data and a more comprehensive sample than past research, we find abnormal returns associated with the ETFs are higher than the alphas of the index funds in most cases. The results are much more prevalent in funds that follow the S&P 500 than funds that do not. When examining the tracking errors, we find index funds are able to track their indexes much better than ETFs and domestic ETFs are better than ETFs that track international indexes. In our most significant finding, we find that tracking error affects fund flow in the following period. While fund flows are generally increasing for both ETFs and index funds, funds that track their respective index better increase their net assets by a larger percentage than funds that track their index less well. In the second chapter, we look at the differences in performance and characteristics of mutual funds as they relate to the manager's gender. Using a larger sample and different techniques than have been used in the past, we find some differences in our matched comparison which suggest female managers have a lower risk tolerance than males. Females also tend to hold a higher number of assets (stocks) and fewer assets in their top 10 holdings than do male managers. In, pooled regressions, we find weak, but significant evidence that current female fund managers, when analyzed as a group, show slightly lower performance than male managers. We then analyze performance within funds over time. Our most consistent result is that when changing the composition of fund management, regardless of gender, the new management has significantly greater performance than prior management. We also find some evidence, although not conclusive, that the percentage of female managers managing a fund is negatively related to the fund's performance over time. Finally, we find the determinants of abnormal returns cannot be attributed to the fund manager's gender.

This study examines the use of leveraged exchange traded funds (LETFs) within a portfolio insurance framework to reduce exposure to downside risk. Investors have learned the importance of mitigating this risk having experienced two “once in a century” events in the last 20 years with the tech crash in the early 2000s and the financial crisis in 2008. Current portfolio insurance strategies are either option based (Leland & Rubinstein, 1976) or constant proportional portfolio insurance (CPPI), (Black & Jones, 1987). The cost of option based strategies can be quite high while a CPPI strategy requires constant rebalancing. This study combines the advantages of each by using LETFs to attain the leverage options provide, while at the same time allowing a greater percentage of the portfolio to be invested in bonds since a position in LETFs relative to a typical market index magnifies equity exposure. Thus, where a standard CPPI strategy may require 50% of the portfolio to be invested in equities, using a 3x LETF only requires approximately 16.7%. Results suggest the use of LETFs within a portfolio insurance framework result in better returns, higher Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, and cumulative prospect values while reducing Value at Risk (VaR) and Excess Shortfall below VaR. This twist on the use of LETFs will be of interest to any investor concerned with mitigating downside risk while allowing participation in increasing markets.

<p>This thesis is an empirical analysis on momentum effects on the Swedish stock exchange’s sector indicesduring the period 2001 to 2009. The momentum effect is investigated by buying previous winner andshort selling previous losers with holding and formation periods over an intermediate time period (1-12month period). Our results are not coherent with previous studies conducted on the U.S market or theworld market, instead our results indicate that the Swedish stock exchange’s sector indices experience acontrarian effect over the intermediate time period. The results are adjusted for systematic risk and aresignificant on the 5%-level. Our result show that the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis isviolated and we therefore believe that a demand exists for easy and convenient investment vehicles withsector specific exposure, which could have a positive effect on the efficiency of the market.</p>

Börshandlade fonder (ETF:er) blir alltmer populära som spar- och investeringsalternativ. Antalet ETF:er och variationen av dessa ökar stadigt. Denna studie ser på ETF:er likställda aktier (ur ett värdepappersperspektiv) och syftar till att applicera momentumstrategier på den amerikanska ETF-marknaden, likt Jegadeesh och Titman (1993), för att testa sambandet mellan ETF:ers kapitalvärde och riskjusterad överavkastning, estimerat genom Jensens alfa. Med utgångspunkt från Banz (1981) som visar på samband mellan investeringar i småbolagsaktier och högre riskjusterad avkastning (än motsvarande investeringar i stora bolags aktier). Testet har baserats på portföljer sammansatta på momentum- och contrarianstrategier för att utröna om en ETFs storlek på kapitalvärde är avgörande för en ETFs avkastning. Populationen har delats upp efter kapitalvärde i grupper om 25% största respektive 25% minsta, varefter portföljer skapats med momentumvinnare och momentumförlorare inom respektive grupp. Resultaten är mångtydiga och är i en del fall i linje med forskning som stödjer teorier om sambandet mellan lågt kapitalvärde och hög riskjusterad överavkastning. I andra fall är resultatet motsatt. Dock ger de flesta observationer inte statistisk signifikans och sambandet kan därför inte styrkas statistiskt. Resultatet tyder snarare på att ett samband mellan dessa två variabler inte föreligger.

This thesis is an empirical analysis on momentum effects on the Swedish stock exchange’s sector indicesduring the period 2001 to 2009. The momentum effect is investigated by buying previous winner andshort selling previous losers with holding and formation periods over an intermediate time period (1-12month period). Our results are not coherent with previous studies conducted on the U.S market or theworld market, instead our results indicate that the Swedish stock exchange’s sector indices experience acontrarian effect over the intermediate time period. The results are adjusted for systematic risk and aresignificant on the 5%-level. Our result show that the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis isviolated and we therefore believe that a demand exists for easy and convenient investment vehicles withsector specific exposure, which could have a positive effect on the efficiency of the market.

The thesis examines the strategy of country momentum and is evaluated with 30 different country exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the period 1996-2018. The empirical evaluation is designed to apply different formation- and holding periods with overlapping portfolios. The results show positive momentum returns in various periods and a few portfolios present a higher average return than the market. However, none of the portfolios is presenting any significant positive returns or alphas, meaning that the three hypotheses cannot be rejected. On the other hand, some portfolios have higher Sharpe ratios and Morningstar value than the market. Thus, meaning that the individual investor could prefer the momentum portfolio over the market despite the insignificant returns.

No description available.

This thesis further investigates the effectiveness of 15 variable moving average strategies that mimic the trading rules used in the study by Brock, Lakonishok, and LeBaron (1992). Instead of applying these strategies to developed markets, unique characteristics of emerging markets offer opportunity to investors that warrant further research. Before transaction costs, all 15 variable moving average strategies outperform the naïve benchmark strategy of buying and holding different emerging market ETF's over the volatile period of 858 trading days. However, the variable moving averages perform poorly in the "bubble" market cycle. In fact, sell signals become more unprofitable than buy signals are profitable. Furthermore, variations of 4 of 5 variable moving average strategies demonstrate significant prospects of returning consistent abnormal returns after adjusting for transaction costs and risk.

Submitted by Codie Ann Sanchez (codie.sanchez2015@fgvmail.br) on 2015-01-26T14:16:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Codie Sanchez - Thesis - 11-5-14.pdf: 11157706 bytes, checksum: 347b152ee482bcd0fa94a753c10cfc20 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Janete de Oliveira Feitosa (janete.feitosa@fgv.br) on 2015-01-28T14:07:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Codie Sanchez - Thesis - 11-5-14.pdf: 11157706 bytes, checksum: 347b152ee482bcd0fa94a753c10cfc20 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2015-02-05T15:58:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Codie Sanchez - Thesis - 11-5-14.pdf: 11157706 bytes, checksum: 347b152ee482bcd0fa94a753c10cfc20 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-05T16:02:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Codie Sanchez - Thesis - 11-5-14.pdf: 11157706 bytes, checksum: 347b152ee482bcd0fa94a753c10cfc20 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-30 / This paper examines the current Chilean and Brazilian pension markets, how these pension markets are structured, how they have historically invested their portfolios in ETFs and how they utilize Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). This investigation will give an overview of the current pension landscape in each country, ETFs and ETF managers in the region, as well as distribution allowances and regulations for ETF providers within the region. Finally it will offer insights throughout that will be useful to those building a business or creating an expansion plan in Brazil or Chile.

The goal of this diploma thesis is to analyze the gold market and provide readers with the necessary information and context having an impact on the price of gold. The thesis consists of three chapters. First one deals in general with the commodity market and introduces the readers to commodity exchange issues such as trading commodities in commodity exchanges, motives of commodity trading as well as the specific characteristics of commodities. Second one concerns the detailed analysis of commodity investment tools that investors might use when they feel like getting an exposure to price movements of commodities. The last chapter gears towards an analysis of the gold market in today's super globalized world and depicts what fundamental factors have an impact on the price of gold. At last, I shall summarize existing pieces of knowledge and cast light on further gold price movements.