Fast Profits: Investor Sentiment and Stock Returns during Ramadan
Abstract
Observed by more than 1.5 billion Muslims, Ramadan is one of the most celebrated religious traditions in the world. We investigate stock returns during Ramadan for 14 predominantly Muslim countries over the years 1989–2007. The results show that stock returns during Ramadan are significantly higher and less volatile than during the rest of the year. No discernible declines in market liquidity are recorded. We find these results consistent with a notion that Ramadan positively affects investor psychology, as it promotes feelings of solidarity and social identity among Muslims world-wide, leading to optimistic beliefs that extend to investment decisions.
Department
Accounting and Finance
Publication Date
3-1-2012
Journal Title
Journal of Banking & Finance
Publisher
Elsevier
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Etebari, A. “Fast Profits: Investor Sentiment and Stock Returns during Ramadan,” (with J?drzej Bia?kowski and Tomasz Wisniewski, Journal of Banking & Finance, 36, 2012, 835–845.