Noise trading in small markets: Evidence from Amman Stock Exchange (ASE)

This study aims to analyze the behavior of traders in Amman Stock Exchange (ASE):-firstly at the market level by analyzing the market return volatility, defining the time frame of this volatility, and classifying it as transitory volatility or a permanent volatility, Daily closing of Amman free float market index will be used to indicate the market return during the period from 1/1/1992 to 31/12/2015 where 5899 observations were obtained. Secondly at the firms level by selecting a sample of trading companies and interpreting the results through analyzing some important features of the companies, such as share price and ownership structure, Daily closing of share price of the selected companies will be used to indicate the return during the period from 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2015 where 240 observations were obtained for each company during this period.To achieve the goals of this study, the Variance ratio test, GARCH test, and CGARCH test will be used. The study highlighted an important result that the common culture of traders on ASE was Noise Trading; the significance of this finding was statistically proven at the confidence level of 1%.This study recommends the competent authorities to enact a slew of strict measures: the implementation of Capital Gains Tax in a bid to slash frequent selloffs and purchasing of noise traders and increasing the commission of brokers in return for completing selloffs and purchasing deals. The study also affirmed the necessity of intervening periodically to raise awareness of the negative impact of speculation including the instability, increasing the firm’s cost of capital and the damage to traders’ confidence in the stock markets.