Investor Sentiment and the Closed-End Fund Puzzle

51 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2007 Last revised: 22 Dec 2022

See all articles by Charles Lee

Charles Lee

Cornell University - Department of Policy Analysis and Management

Andrei Shleifer

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Richard H. Thaler

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: October 1990

Abstract

This paper examines the proposition that fluctuations in discounts on closed end funds are driven by changes in individual investor sentiment toward closed end funds and other securities. The theory implies that discounts on various funds must move together, that new funds get started when seasoned funds sell at a premium or a small discount, and that discounts on the funds fluctuate together with prices of securities affected by the same investor sentiment. The evidence supports these predictions. In particular, we find that discounts on closed end funds narrow when small stocks do well, as would be expected if closed end funds were subject to the same sentiment as small stocks, whim tern. also to be held by individual investors. The evidence thus suggests that investor sentiment affects security returns.

Suggested Citation

Lee, Charles and Shleifer, Andrei and Thaler, Richard H., Investor Sentiment and the Closed-End Fund Puzzle (October 1990). NBER Working Paper No. w3465, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=987263

Charles Lee (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Department of Policy Analysis and Management ( email )

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Andrei Shleifer

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

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Richard H. Thaler

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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