Stock Market Anomalies

Abstract

This chapter provides a summary of the most important stock market anomalies, i.e., the weekend effect, the January effect, the turn-of-the-month and holiday effect, the S&P 500 effect, trading by insiders, the momentum of industry portfolio, home bias, the Value Line enigma and the expiry of IPO lockups. These anomalies cannot be explained by traditional finance theory and, since they show persistency, do not constitute arbitrage opportunities. Each anomaly is described, evidence is supplied and explanations are provided when available.