Mutual Fund Performance: Evidence From South Africa

Authors

  • Ömer Faruk Tan MEF University, Economics Department

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/emaj.2015.83

Keywords:

Mutual Fund, South Africa, Performance Evaluation

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the performance of South African equity funds between January 2009 and November 2014. This study period overlaps with the study period of quantitative easing during which developing economies in financial markets have been influenced severely. Thanks to the increase in the money supply directed towards the capital markets, a relief was experienced in related markets following the crisis period. During this 5-year 10-month period, in which the relevant quantitative easing continued, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) yielded approximately %16 compounded on average, per year. In this study, South African equity funds are examined in order to compare these funds' performance within this period.Within this scope- 10 South African equity funds are selected. In order to measure these funds' performances, the Sharpe ratio (1966), Treynor ratio (1965), Jensen's alpha (1968) methods are used. Jensen's alpha is also used in identifying selectivity skills of fund managers. Furthermore, the Treynor & Mazuy (1966) and Henriksson & Merton (1981) regression analysis methods are applied to ascertain the market timing ability of fund managers. Furthermore, Treynor & Mazuy (1966) regression analysis method is applied for market timing ability of fund managers.

Author Biography

Ömer Faruk Tan, MEF University, Economics Department

My name is Ömer Faruk TAN. I am a research assistant at MEF University in economics department, Istanbul, Turkey.

References

Chang, E., & Lewellen, W. (1984). Market timing and mutual funds investment performance. Journal of Business, 57, 57-72.

Chen, D., Gan. C., & Hu, B. (2013). An empirical study of mutual funds performance in China. Social Science Research Network. Retrieved January 10, 2015 from SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstrat=2220323.

Christensen, M. (20059. Danish mutual fund performance; Selectivity, market timing and persistence. Working Paper, Department of Accounting, Finance and Logistics, Aarhus School of Business, 1-37.

Dahlquist, M., Engström, S., & Söderlind, P. (2000). Performance and characteristics of Swedish mutual funds. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 35, 409-423.

Deepak, A. (2011). Measuring performance of Indian mutual funds. Social Science Research Network. Retrieved November 15, 2014 from SSRN: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1311761.

Detzler, M. L. (1999). Performance of global bond mutual funds. Journal of Banking & Finance, 23, 1195-1217.

Duggimpudi R. R., Abdou, H. A., & Zaki, M. (2010). An investigation of equity diversified mutual funds: The case of Indian market. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 7(4), 77-84.

Gallo, J, G., & Swanson, P. E. (1996). Comparative measures of performance for U.S. – based international equity mutual funds. Journal of Banking & Finance, 20, 1636-1650.

Gilbertson, B. P., & Vermaak, M. N. (1982). The performance of South African mutual funds: 1974-1981. Investment Analysts Journal, 11(20), 35-45.

Henriksson, R. D. (1984). Market timing and mutual fund performance: An empirical investigation. The Journal of Business, 57(1), 73-96.

Henriksson, R. D., & Merton, R. C. (1981). On market timing and investment performance. II. Statistical procedures for evaluating forecasting skills. The Journal of Business, 54(4), 513-533.

Investment company institute (ICI) -Unit investments trust data. Retrieved from February, 15, 2015 from http://www.ici.org/research/stats.

Jensen, M.C. (1968). The performance of mutual funds in the period 1945-1964. The Journal of Finance, 23(2), 389-416.

Kouris, A., Beneki, C., Adam, M., & Botsaris, C. (2011). An assessment of the performance of Greek mutual equity funds selectivity and market timing. Applied Mathematics Sciences, 5(4), 159-171.

Malkiel, B, G. (1995). Returns from investing in equity funds: 1971-1991. Journal of Finance, 50, 549-572.

Manjezi, L. (2012). Portfolio performance evaluation of South African mutual funds 2001-2006. Unpublished master’s thesis. University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.

Mayo, H. B. (2011). Introduction to investments (10th. Edition). Southwestern Cengage Learning, Mason, USA.

Mbiola, O. J. (2013). Performance evaluation of unit trusts in South Africa over the last two decades. Unpublished master’s thesis. University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Noulas, G., Papanastation, J. A., & Lazaridis, J. (2005). Performance of mutual funds. Managerial Finance, 31(2), 101-112.

Rao, D. N. (2006). Investment styles and performance of equity mutual funds in India. Social Sciences Research Network. Retrieved November 15, 2014 from SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=922595 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.922595.

Reilly, F, R. (1992). Investments (3rd. edition). Orlando, Florida: The Dryden Press.

Sharpe, W. F. (1996). Mutual fund performance. Journal of Business, 34, 119-138.

Treynor, J. L. (1965). How to rate management of investment funds. Harvard Business Review. 43(1), 131-136.

Treynor, J. L., & Mazuy, K.K. (1966). Can mutual funds outguess the market? Harvard Business Review, 44, 131-136.

Tripathy, N. P. (2005). An empirical evaluation of market timing abilities of Indian fund managers on equity linked savings scheme. Delhi Business Review, 6(2), 19-27.

What is quantitative easing? Definition and explanation. Retrieved January 23, 2015 from http://useconomy.about.com/od/glossary/g/Quantitative-Eaing.htm.

Downloads

Published

2015-11-12

Issue

Section

Articles