Can Noise Traders Survive
Discuss the implications of the paradox that although financial theory assumes that investors are rational in practive, few if any investors appear to approach investments decisions in a rational manner.
Can Noise Traders Survive?
1. Introduction Noise Trader is a financial term introduced by Kyle (1985) and Black (1986). It refers to a stock trader who lacks access to inside information and makes irrational investment decisions (De Long et al., 1990). Traditional financial theories are often based on the assumption that all the investors are rational. The burgeoning behavioral finance departs from classical financial theory by dropping this basic assumption (Carty, 2005). In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the behaviour and effects of noise traders. Friedman (1953) and Fama (1965) argue that noise traders are irrelevant because they will be driven out of market by rational investors who trade against them. On the contrary, Black (1986) argues that noise traders can survive in the long run, and the entire financial market cannot function properly without noise traders. This essay will attempt to demonstrate that noise traders can make profits and survive in the long run, they can maintain a price impact and provide liquidity to the market. In order to demonstrate this, first, this essay will be specifically focusing on efficient-market hypothesis (EMH), which is a representative traditional financial theory based on rational investors assumption. Both empirical and theoretical evidence will be given in order to demonstrate the discrepancy between the rational investors assumption and real financial markets. Second, this essay will further explain how noise traders can survive in the long run, even sometimes earn higher expected returns than rational investors. Finally, it should be noted that noise trading is essential to financial market as its impact on asset pricing and benefits for market liquidity.
2.
Can Noise Traders Survive?
1. Introduction Noise Trader is a financial term introduced by Kyle (1985) and Black (1986). It refers to a stock trader who lacks access to inside information and makes irrational investment decisions (De Long et al., 1990). Traditional financial theories are often based on the assumption that all the investors are rational. The burgeoning behavioral finance departs from classical financial theory by dropping this basic assumption (Carty, 2005). In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the behaviour and effects of noise traders. Friedman (1953) and Fama (1965) argue that noise traders are irrelevant because they will be driven out of market by rational investors who trade against them. On the contrary, Black (1986) argues that noise traders can survive in the long run, and the entire financial market cannot function properly without noise traders. This essay will attempt to demonstrate that noise traders can make profits and survive in the long run, they can maintain a price impact and provide liquidity to the market. In order to demonstrate this, first, this essay will be specifically focusing on efficient-market hypothesis (EMH), which is a representative traditional financial theory based on rational investors assumption. Both empirical and theoretical evidence will be given in order to demonstrate the discrepancy between the rational investors assumption and real financial markets. Second, this essay will further explain how noise traders can survive in the long run, even sometimes earn higher expected returns than rational investors. Finally, it should be noted that noise trading is essential to financial market as its impact on asset pricing and benefits for market liquidity.
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