We explore the potential benefits of a series of existing and new non-parametric convex and non-convex frontier-based fund rating models to summarize the information contained in the moments of the mutual fund price series. Limiting ourselves to the traditional mean-variance portfolio setting, we test in a simple backtesting setup whether these efficiency measures fare any better than more trad...

This paper extends the risk-sensitive asset management theory developed by Bielecki and Pliska and by Kuroda and Nagai to the case where the investor’s objective is to outperform an investment benchmark. The main result is a mutual fund theorem. Every investor following the same benchmark will take positions, in proportions dependent on his/her risk sensitivity coefficient, in two funds: the lo...

We study how the strategies and performance of an asset management company are affected by its internal organizational structure. Relying on Stein’s (2002) theory of organizations, we argue that a more hierarchical structure reduces the incentives to collect “soft” information and to engage in proximity investment. This should lower portfolio concentration, increase managerial herding and reduc...

Although the 1940 Act restricts interfund lending within a mutual fund family, families can apply for regulatory exemptions to participate in interfund lending. We find that heterogeneity in portfolio liquidity and investor flows across funds, funds’ investment restrictions, and governance mechanisms influence the fund family’s decision to apply for interfund lending. We document several costs ...

We consider a group of mean-variance investors with mimicking desire such that each investor is willing to penalize deviations of his portfolio composition from compositions of other group members. Penalizing norm constraints are already applied for statistical improvement of Markowitz portfolio procedure in order to cope with estimation risk. We relate these penalties to individuals’ wish of s...

The sharp distinction drawn between firms rated narrowly above (BBB–) and below (BB+) the investment-grade cutoff provides variation in debt financing availability unrelated to firm fundamentals. We exploit this market segmentation to identify an asymmetric effect of debt capital supply on voluntary disclosure: BB+ firms step up disclosure in response to high-yield bond mutual fund outflows. Th...

The average level and cross-sectional variability of fund alphas are estimated from a large sample of mutual funds. This information is incorporated, along with the usual regression estimate of alpha, in a (roughly) precision-weighted average measure of individual fund performance. Substantial ‘‘learning across funds’’ is documented, with significant effects on investment decisions. In a Bayesi...

Nowaday, Corporate Socially Responsible (CSR) mutual funds are becoming a popular investment option for investors. However, no any research confirms whether CSR Mutual fund activity is better than market index or not. Besides, we should have one method can help con sequently investors in making the decision to select appropriate investment funds. In this study, we measure the financial performa...