Nous étudions le comportement des investisseurs individuels sur les marchés financiers en combinant les réponses au questionnaire MiFID et les données bancaires de plus de 98,000 clients d’une grande banque Européenne. Tout d’abord, nous étudions la participation sur les marchés actions. Nous montrons que la tolérance au risque et les attitudes face aux pertes auto-évaluées des clients sont de forts prédicteurs de l’investissement en actions tout en contrôlant les déterminants classiques. Puis, dans le cadre de la comptabilité mentale, nous créons une typologie d’objectifs mentaux et montrons que les décisions financières des clients sont cohérentes avec leurs objectifs mentaux. Enfin, nous analysons le comportement des investisseurs détenant directement au moins une action étrangère. Nous montrons qu’ils détiennent des portefeuilles d’actions plus diversifiés que les investisseurs domestiques. Ces investisseurs sophistiqués sont plus tolérants au risque, moins sensibles aux pertes et plus instruits en matière financière mais sont sujets au biais national. / We study retail investors’ behavior on financial markets by combining the MiFID questionnaire answers and banking records of more than 98,000 retail clients of a large European retail bank. First, we study stock market participation. We show that retail clients’ self-assessed risk tolerance and attitudes towards losses are strong drivers of stockholding while controlling for classical determinants. Second, under the mental accounting framework, we derive a typology of retail client mental goals and show that retail clients’ actual investment decisions are consistent with their mental goals. Finally, we analyze the behavior of investors directly holding at least one foreign individual stock. We show that they hold more diversified stock portfolios than domestic investors. These sophisticated investors are more risk tolerant, less sensitive to losses and more financially literate but are subject to the home bias.

In the first essay we explore and establish a direct link between investor attention to advertising videos viewed on social media, and trading activity in a firm's securities. We find a positive relation between views of these advertising videos and volume, and a negative relationship between views and bid-ask spread. Returns are positively related to change in views. The positive price pressure is reversed over the following two weeks. The decreases in spread and temporary increase in returns are consistent with increased purchasing by individual investors who view the advertising videos. Our results support the hypothesis that the number of views (attention) is more important than advertising dollars. Views are tested concurrently with Google Abnormal Search Volume Index (ASVI), and the empirical results suggest that views and ASVI provide measures of attention for different investor groups. Our results also suggest that the link of ASVI to individual investors may be diminished in more recent periods. In the second essay, using a unique data set provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts along with Dallas County, Texas Appraisal District files and Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales, we examine whether residential properties sold through a multiple listing service sell at similar prices compared to properties that do not sell through a multiple listing service after controlling for Grantor (seller) type. We find a 1.8% premium for properties sold through a MLS by individuals after controlling for different grantor types. Our results indicate that only individuals receive this premium.

This work covers a substantial mosaic of related concepts in utility theory as applied to financial decision-making. It reviews some of the classical notions of Benthamite utility and the normative utility paradigm offered by the von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility theory; exploring its major pitfalls before moving into what is postulated as an entropic notion of utility. Extrinsic utility is proposed as a cardinally measurable quantity; measurable in terms of the expected information content of a set of alternative choices. The entropic notion of utility is subsequently used to model the financial behavior of individual investors based on their governing risk-return preferences involving financial structured products manufactured out of complex, multi-asset options. Evolutionary superiority of the Black-Scholes function in dynamic hedging scenarios is computationally demonstrated using a haploid genetic algorithm model programmed in Borland C. The work explores, both theoretically and computationally, the psycho-cognitive factors governing the financial behavior of individual investors both in the presence as well as absence of downside risk and postulates the concepts of resolvable and irresolvable risk. A formal theorem of consistent preference is proposed and proved. The work also analyzes the utility of an endogenous capital guarantee built within a financial structured product. The aspect of investor empowerment is discussed in terms of how financial behavior of an investor may be transformed if he or she is allowed a choice of one or more assets that may gain entry into the financial structured product. Finally there is a concluding section wherein the different facets are placed in their proper perspective and a number of interesting future research directions are also proposed.

<p>I analyze a large number of investment decisions based on theories that have been developed and formalized over the past 50 years. Previous work in this field unveils a number of biases which affect ones choices when the outcome is uncertain. In my thesis I find evidence of these already known biases and focus on finding rational explanations for their existence. I also introduce two unexplored biases; the homeboy bias and the menu bias.</p><p>The results clearly indicate that sophisticated investors are generally less subject to these biases. Since pension schemes in many nations are shifting towards defined contribution schemes, investment decisions and risk preferences will be of great consequence to investors’ personal economy and ability to consume, affecting the economy in general. It is therefore of great importance that policy makers do all that they can to increase investors sophistication and create a playing field which facilitates economically sound investing.</p>

<p>Background: The global capital markets have enlarged investment opportunities and thus also the sources of funds for companies which increasingly face global markets for their services and products. Huge capital movements show that investors are constantly searching ways to minimise risk and maximise returns. In the light of the substantial growth of assets in institutional funds, an important question for international finance is the degree to which institutional investors have diversified their portfolios internationally. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the international diversification of portfolio investments of institutional investors in Japan, the US and the UK and deepen into international diversification in portfolios of Japanese institutional investors. </p><p>Demarcations: Institutional investors can use their power directly in companies or indirectly through capital markets. In this thesis, I will not discuss corporate governance issues. Nor is it an aim of this thesis to try to find the optimal portfolio or the best performing portfolio. </p><p>Method: Secondary data in this study are based on several sources from academic literature as well as from public data and statistics. Primary data for this study include interviews and background discussions as well as my own calculations. Interviews were made in order to obtain more information and make a proper comparison. The interviews were held in Tokyo, Japan. </p><p>Conclusions: International diversification of portfolio investment of institutional investors tend to differ more between countries where the investors are based than between the type of investor in different countries. Institutional investors in UK tend to diversify their investments more internationally compared to Japanese and US counterparts. Japanese institutional investors tend to have very similar international diversification strategies. This can be explained by cultural aspects which traditionally have promoted risk averse and domestic investment strategies. Furthermore, there are reasons which make investment strategies more country contingent. Currency risk, level of knowledge and domestic investment opportunities have critical impact on international investments.</p>

<p>Listed corporations achieve effectiveness through segmentation of investors. Categorization of like- minded investors diminishes goal incongruence. This thesis aim to examine an Investor models accuracy, provided by a Professor Emeritus in Economic Psychology in 2001. This model segments investors as active, passive, speculative and naive investors.</p><p> </p><p>This thesis has a demarcation to private investors on the Swedish stock market. It has a deductive and qualitative approach as the purpose is to study the Investor model. In order to obtain empirical data semi- structured interviews were conducted with Avanza Bank, Handelsbanken, Aktiespararna and Karl- Erik Wärneryd, the author of the Investor model. All interviews were carried out by telephone except the face- to- face interview with Karl- Erik Wärneryd.</p><p> </p><p>The conclusion of this thesis is that the Investor model is not universal. The Investor model needs to be modified by the purpose of the sector of the application in order to be accurate. Different factors have influenced investors since 2001 which has subsequently had an effect on the Investor groups’ characteristics.</p>

Background: The global capital markets have enlarged investment opportunities and thus also the sources of funds for companies which increasingly face global markets for their services and products. Huge capital movements show that investors are constantly searching ways to minimise risk and maximise returns. In the light of the substantial growth of assets in institutional funds, an important question for international finance is the degree to which institutional investors have diversified their portfolios internationally. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the international diversification of portfolio investments of institutional investors in Japan, the US and the UK and deepen into international diversification in portfolios of Japanese institutional investors. Demarcations: Institutional investors can use their power directly in companies or indirectly through capital markets. In this thesis, I will not discuss corporate governance issues. Nor is it an aim of this thesis to try to find the optimal portfolio or the best performing portfolio. Method: Secondary data in this study are based on several sources from academic literature as well as from public data and statistics. Primary data for this study include interviews and background discussions as well as my own calculations. Interviews were made in order to obtain more information and make a proper comparison. The interviews were held in Tokyo, Japan. Conclusions: International diversification of portfolio investment of institutional investors tend to differ more between countries where the investors are based than between the type of investor in different countries. Institutional investors in UK tend to diversify their investments more internationally compared to Japanese and US counterparts. Japanese institutional investors tend to have very similar international diversification strategies. This can be explained by cultural aspects which traditionally have promoted risk averse and domestic investment strategies. Furthermore, there are reasons which make investment strategies more country contingent. Currency risk, level of knowledge and domestic investment opportunities have critical impact on international investments.

I analyze a large number of investment decisions based on theories that have been developed and formalized over the past 50 years. Previous work in this field unveils a number of biases which affect ones choices when the outcome is uncertain. In my thesis I find evidence of these already known biases and focus on finding rational explanations for their existence. I also introduce two unexplored biases; the homeboy bias and the menu bias. The results clearly indicate that sophisticated investors are generally less subject to these biases. Since pension schemes in many nations are shifting towards defined contribution schemes, investment decisions and risk preferences will be of great consequence to investors’ personal economy and ability to consume, affecting the economy in general. It is therefore of great importance that policy makers do all that they can to increase investors sophistication and create a playing field which facilitates economically sound investing.

Listed corporations achieve effectiveness through segmentation of investors. Categorization of like- minded investors diminishes goal incongruence. This thesis aim to examine an Investor models accuracy, provided by a Professor Emeritus in Economic Psychology in 2001. This model segments investors as active, passive, speculative and naive investors.   This thesis has a demarcation to private investors on the Swedish stock market. It has a deductive and qualitative approach as the purpose is to study the Investor model. In order to obtain empirical data semi- structured interviews were conducted with Avanza Bank, Handelsbanken, Aktiespararna and Karl- Erik Wärneryd, the author of the Investor model. All interviews were carried out by telephone except the face- to- face interview with Karl- Erik Wärneryd.   The conclusion of this thesis is that the Investor model is not universal. The Investor model needs to be modified by the purpose of the sector of the application in order to be accurate. Different factors have influenced investors since 2001 which has subsequently had an effect on the Investor groups’ characteristics.

本研究探討企業宣告私募股權之動機對宣告時之折價幅度、異常報酬，以及其後續的執行率與經營績效之影響。並將私募案依投資人加以分類，區分為積極性私募、管理階層私募與消極性私募，各類私募分開探討其動機、執行率與經營績效。 實證結果發現，企業選擇私募股權融資的動機如下：(1) 進行積極性私募之動機，並無法以監督需求假說解釋之；(2)自利交易為進行管理階層私募之動機；(3) 進行消極性私募之動機，並無法以控制權鞏假說解釋之。 私募實際執行與否的影響因素方面，實證結果如下：(1) 積極性私募因為研究樣本過少，無法進行實證分析；(2) 管理階層私募方面，當預計發行股數佔流通在外股數比例較高時，實際執行的可能性較高；(3) 消極性私募方面，投資機會於宣告後增加，實際執行的可能性較高，然而當內部人持股比例低於5%或高於25%時，實際執行的可能性較低。 至於私募之執行與後續經營績效之關聯性，實證結果發現：(1) 積極性私募由於研究樣本過少，無法進行實證分析；(2) 執行管理階層私募之公司，其經營績效於執行後確實獲得提升；(3) 執行消極性私募之公司，其經營績效於執行後確實獲得提升，然而此發現並不支持控制權鞏固假說之預期。 / This research mainly discusses the motivations of firms which announce issuing private equity. The announcement motivations will influence the price discount and abnormal returns in the period of announcement, wills to execute the private placement, and the subsequent performance of those announcing firms. This study classifies private placements into three groups, including active placements, managerial placements, and passive placements. There are different motivations, situations of executions, and subsequent performances in different types of private placements. The empirical results on the motivations of firms that announce issuing equity privately indicate the following: (1) Monitoring hypothesis can’t explain why firms issue private equity to active investors. (2) Managerial self-dealing is the purpose of firms issuing private equity to insiders. (3) Managerial entrenchment hypothesis can’t explain why firms issue private equity to passive investors. The empirical results on the factors that influence firms execute the private placement or not indicate the followings: (1) Because of the sample constraints, this study can’t analyze in what situation firms will execute active private placements. (2) For managerial placements, those with higher percentage of the firm’s outstanding common stock represented by the placement tend to be executed. (3) For passive placements, when the investment opportunities increased after announcements, firms tend to execute the placement. However, when the ownership concentration is less than 5% or higher than 25%, firms’ wills to execute the placement are weaker. The empirical results on the association between the execution of private placements and its subsequent performance indicate the following: (1) Because of the sample constraints, this study can’t analyze the impacts of the execution of the active placement on the subsequent performance of the announcing fitm. (2) Firms executing managerial placements tend to have better subsequent performance. (3) Firms executing passive placements tend to have better subsequent performance. However, managerial entrenchment hypothesis can’t explain this result.