Retail and Institutional Investor Trading Behaviors: Evidence from China

With China being a large developing economy, the trading in China's stock market is dominated by retail investors, and its government actively participates in this market. These features are quite different from those of typical developed markets, and this review focuses on two important questions: how do retail and institutional investors trade in China and why? We have three main findings after reviewing 100+ previous studies. First, small retail investors have low financial literacy, exhibit behavioral biases, and not surprisingly, negatively predict future returns; whereas large retail investors and institutions are capable of processing information, and they positively predict future returns. Second, the macro- and firm-level information environment in China is slowly but gradually improving. Finally, the Chinese government actively adjusts its regulations of the stock market to serve the dual goals of growth and stability, with many of them being effective, while some may not generate intended consequences.