An Examination of Herding Behavior in Chinese A-Share Market by Cross-Sectional Absolute Deviation (CSAD)

Abstract

The study aims to test the existence and the continuity of herding behaviour in Chinese A-share market by the method called cross-sectional absolute deviation (CSAD). Herding behavior, defined as individuals tend to follow others when making decision, has a large impact on stock markets. The latest data from July 2016 to July 2019 in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets are used. The data are divided into both three-year period and annual subperiod. The results indicate that there is a lasting influence of herding behavior on these A-share markets during these three years. Besides, the value of CSAD of Shenzhen A-share market is higher than the one of Shanghai and both of them are shown in an increasing tendency over the years. Future researches can explore more on this tendency, including its verification and explanation.