An examination of herding behavior in Pakistani stock market

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the investment behavior of Pakistani stock market participants, specifically with respect to their tendency to exhibit herd behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed two different methodologies suggested by Christie and Huang (1995) and Chang et al. (2000) to test herd formation. Results are based on daily and monthly stock of KSE-100 index for the period 2002-2007.

Findings

Results based on daily and monthly stock data from Karachi Stock Exchange indicate the non-existence of herd behavior for the period 2002-2007 and find no support for the rational asset pricing model and investor behavior found inefficient. This study denied proved evidence of herding due to market return asymmetry, high and low trading volume states and asymmetric market volatility. Macroeconomic fundamentals have insignificant role in decision-making process of investor therefore has no impact on herding behavior. However, during liquidity crisis of March 2005, Pakistani stock market exhibit herding behavior due to asymmetry of information among investors, presence of speculator and questionable badla financing-local leverage financing mechanism.

Research limitations/implications

In future, this study can be improved by employing stock returns portfolios based on market capitalization or sector wise portfolio returns from KSE-100. Furthermore by identifying those factors that cause market to be overall inefficient and define the pattern of the investor trading activities.

Practical implications

For an accurate valuation of assets investors should incorporate the herding factor.

Social implications

As the assets are mispriced, investor behavior is uncertain and markets are inefficient, foreign investors should invest with caution, as large numbers of securities are needed to achieve the same level of diversification than in an otherwise normal market.

Originality/value

In Karachi Stock Exchange, it is first attempt to uncover the herding behavior. This paper contribute to the body of knowledge by investigating the herding behavior in the emerging markets since most of the previous study concentrate more on the developed markets. Furthermore, the study also analyzed the herding behavior in different economic condition and includes economic variables and examines asymmetric effect. This study presents an integrated model to test herding behavior in Pakistani equity market. Consideration of said behavioral effect in the decision-making process of investor will make the decisions more rational and optimal.

Citation

Javaira, Z. and Hassan, A. (2015), "An examination of herding behavior in Pakistani stock market", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 474-490. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJoEM-07-2011-0064

Download as .RIS