Active Short Selling By Hedge Funds

Active Short Selling By Hedge Funds

Ian Appel, Jordan Bulka, Vyacheslav Fos

Series number :

Serial Number: 
609/2019

Date posted :

July 01 2019

Last revised :

June 25 2019
SSRN Share

Keywords

  • Activist Hedge Funds • 
  • Short Selling

Short selling campaigns by hedge funds have become increasingly common in the last decade. Using a hand-collected sample of 252 campaigns, we document abnormal returns for targets of approximately -7% around the announcement date. Firm stakeholders, including the media, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and other short sellers, play an important role in campaigns.

Changes in aggregate short interest do not drive the effects on firm value and stakeholder behavior. Campaigns are primarily undertaken by activist hedge funds. Evidence suggests disclosure costs and information are important channels through which activism technology affects short selling.

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Authors

Prof.
Real name:
Ian Appel
Boston College
Real name:
Jordan Bulka