The Degree of Financial Literacy as a Deterministic Factor in Investment Decisions: Evidence from Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Local retail investors at the CSE are not gaining the optimum benefits out of the market whereas, the foreign investors are gaining high profits through trading stocks. In addition, the financial literacy level of Sri Lankans is low compared to other countries. The main target of the researcher is to determine “The Impact of Behavioral Finance on Investment Decision-Making in the Stock Market and the Moderating Role of Financial Literacy: with special reference to local individual investors at the CSE of Sri Lanka”. The findings of the study revealed that a significant relationship exists between behavioral finance and investment decision-making. It was also established that financial literacy moderates the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The qualitative findings resulted in a final thematic analysis which gave rise to additional independent variables and moderating variables which were suggested for future research by the author.