Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-05T05:38:47.742Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Foreign Ties That Bind: Cross-Border Firm Expansions and Fund Portfolio Allocation Around the World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2022

Fariborz Moshirian
Affiliation:
UNSW Sydney Institute of Global Finance and School of Banking and Finance f.moshirian@unsw.edu.au
Peter K. Pham
Affiliation:
UNSW Sydney Institute of Global Finance and School of Banking and Finance peter.pham@unsw.edu.au
Shu Tian
Affiliation:
Economic Research and Regional Cooperation, Department Asian Development Bank stian@adb.org
Eliza Wu*
Affiliation:
University of Sydney Discipline of Finance
*
eliza.wu@sydney.edu.au (corresponding author)
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We investigate whether international operations enhance information links between firms and foreign investors. Exploiting novel subsidiary-level data and within-location variations, we show that, after expanding into another country, a firm attracts greater investment allocation from funds from that country than from other foreign funds. This increase is economically significant, equivalent to one-fifth of the average firm weight in a country-specific portfolio. The observed effect cannot be attributed to funds’ influence, persists even when funds are already familiar with the firm, and helps them generate superior risk-adjusted returns. Our results suggest that firms’ cross-border economic activities contribute to global financial interconnectedness.

Type
Research Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington

Footnotes

We thank Henk Berkman, Charles Calomiris, Sith Chaisurote, Ian Cooper, Bill Francis, Pengjie Gao, Pedro Matos, Phong Ngo, Emilio Osambela, Johan Sulaeman, Le Vu, Shang-Jin Wei, Takeshi Yamada, Hong Yan, and Lu Zheng, other participants at the American Finance Association, Financial Intermediation Research Society, and Northern Finance Association conferences, and other seminar participants at the Australian National University, City University of London, Fudan University, La Trobe University, Massey University, Monash University, University of Adelaide, University of Auckland, University of Sydney, University of Zurich, and Victoria University of Wellington for useful comments on different versions of this article. We are also very grateful for the excellent research support from Zhuo Chen, Stephen Lo, and Bochen Wu, as well as the financial support from the Australian Research Council (ARC). All errors remain our own.

References

Akbari, A.; Ng, L.; and Solnik, B.. “Emerging Markets Are Catching Up: Economic or Financial Integration?Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 55 (2020), 22702303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ammer, J.; Holland, S. B.; Smith, D. C.; and Warnock, F.. “U.S. International Equity Investment.” Journal of Accounting Research, 50 (2012), 11091139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrade, S. C., and Chhaochharia, V.. “Information Immobility and Foreign Portfolio Investment.” Review of Financial Studies, 23 (2010), 24292463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Antras, P., and Caballero, R.. “Trade and Capital Flows: A Financial Frictions Perspective.” Journal of Political Economy, 117 (2009), 701744.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baik, B.; Kang, J.-K.; Kim, J.-M.; and Lee, J.. “The Liability of Foreignness in International Equity Investments: Evidence from the US Stock Market.” Journal of International Business Studies, 44 (2013), 391411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bekaert, G.; Harvey, C. R.; Lundblad, C. T.; and Siegel, S.. “What Segments Equity Markets?Review of Financial Studies, 24 (2011), 38413890.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bena, J., and Li, K.. “Corporate Innovations and Mergers and Acquisitions.” Journal of Finance, 69 (2014), 19231960.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernile, G.; Kumar, A.; and Sulaeman, J.. “Home Away from Home: Geography of Information and Local Investors.” Review of Financial Studies, 28 (2015), 20092049.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernstein, S.; Giroud, X.; and Townsend, R. R.. “The Impact of Venture Capital Monitoring.” Journal of Finance, 71 (2016), 15911622.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braun, M., and Raddatz, C.. “The Politics of Financial Development: Evidence from Trade Liberalization.” Journal of Finance, 63 (2008), 14691508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bustos, P.Trade Liberalization, Exports, and Technology Upgrading: Evidence on the Impact of MERCOSUR on Argentinian Firms.” American Economic Review, 101 (2011), 304–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carrieri, F.; Chaieb, I.; and Errunza, V.. “Do Implicit Barriers Matter for Globalization?Review of Financial Studies, 26 (2013), 16941739.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chan, K.; Covrig, V.; and Ng, L.. “What Determines the Domestic Bias and Foreign Bias? Evidence from Mutual Fund Equity Allocations Worldwide.” Journal of Finance, 60 (2005), 14951534.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Choi, N.; Fedenia, M.; Skiba, H.; and Sokolyk, T.. “Portfolio Concentration and Performance of Institutional Investors Worldwide.” Journal of Financial Economics, 123 (2017), 189208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chuprinin, O.; Massa, M.; and Schumacher, D.. “Outsourcing in the International Mutual Fund Industry: An Equilibrium View.” Journal of Finance, 70 (2015), 22752308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coeurdacier, N., and Rey, H.. “Home Bias in Open Economy Financial Macroeconomics.” Journal of Economic Literature, 51 (2013), 63115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, L.Loyalty-Based Portfolio Choice.” Review of Financial Studies, 22 (2009), 12131245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conconi, P.; Sapir, A.; and Zanardi, M.. “The Internationalization Process of Firms: From Exports to FDI.” Journal of International Economics, 99 (2016), 1630.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, I., and Kaplanis, E., “Costs to Cross Border Investment and International Equity Market Equilibrium.” In Recent Developments in Corporate Finance, Vol. 4, Edwards, C. M. J., Franks, J., and Schaefer, S., eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1986), 209240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coval, J. D., and Moskowitz, T. J.. “The Geography of Investment: Informed Trading and Asset Prices.” Journal of Political Economy, 109 (2001), 811841.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Covrig, V. M.; Defond, M. L.; and Hung, M.. “Home Bias, Foreign Mutual Fund Holdings, and the Voluntary Adoption of International Accounting Standards.” Journal of Accounting Research, 45 (2007), 4170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Covrig, V.; Lau, S. T.; and Ng, L.. “Do Domestic and Foreign Fund Managers Have Similar Preferences for Stock Characteristics? A Cross-Country Analysis.” Journal of International Business Studies, 37 (2006), 407429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dahlquist, M., and Robertsson, G.. “Direct Foreign Ownership, Institutional Investors, and Firm Characteristics.” Journal of Financial Economics, 59 (2001), 413440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dziuda, W., and Mondria, J.. “Asymmetric Information, Portfolio Managers, and Home Bias.” Review of Financial Studies, 25 (2012), 21092154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fang, L. H.; Peress, J.; and Zheng, L.. “Does Media Coverage of Stocks Affect Mutual Funds’ Trading and Performance?Review of Financial Studies, 27 (2014), 34413466.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferreira, M.; Massa, M.; and Matos, P.. “Shareholders at the Gate? Institutional Investors and Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions.” Review of Financial Studies, 23 (2010), 601644.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferreira, M., and Matos, P.. “The Colors of Investors’ Money: The Role of Institutional Investors Around the World.” Journal of Financial Economics, 88 (2008), 499533.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fillat, J., and Garetto, S.. “Risk, Returns, and Multinational Production.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130 (2015), 20272073.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foley, C. F., and Manova, K.. “International Trade, Multinational Activity, and Corporate Finance.” Annual Review of Economics, 7 (2015), 119146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fresard, L.Financial Strength and Product Market Behavior: The Real Effects of Corporate Cash Holdings.” Journal of Finance, 65 (2010), 10971122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fresard, L.; Hege, U.; and Phillips, G.. “Extending Industry Specialization Through Cross-Border Acquisitions.” Review of Financial Studies, 30 (2017), 15391582.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gompers, P. A., and Metrick, A.. “Institutional Investors and Equity Prices.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 116 (2001), 229259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gopinath, G.; Kalemli-Ozcan, S.; Karabarbounis, L.; and Villegas-Sanchez, C.. “Capital Allocation and Productivity in South Europe.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 132 (2017), 19151967.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huberman, G.Familiarity Breeds Investment.” Review of Financial Studies, 14 (2001), 659680.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jang, Y.International Corporate Diversification and Financial Flexibility.” Review of Financial Studies, 30 (2017), 41334178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalemli-Ozcan, S.; Papaioannou, E.; and Peydro, J.-L.. “Financial Regulation, Financial Globalization, and the Synchronization of Economic Activity.” Journal of Finance, 68 (2013), 11791228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kang, J.-K., and Stulz, R.. “Why is There a Home Bias? An Analysis of Foreign Portfolio Equity Ownership in Japan.” Journal of Financial Economics, 46 (1997), 328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karolyi, G. A.; Ng, D. T.; and Prasad, E.. “The Coming Wave: Where Do Emerging Market Investors Put Their Money?Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 55 (2020), 13691414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ke, D.; Ng, L.; and Wang, Q.. “Home Bias in Foreign Investment Decisions.” Journal of International Business Studies, 41 (2010), 960979.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keloharju, M.; Knupfer, S.; and Linnainmaa, J.. “Do Investors Buy What They Know? Product Market Choices and Investment Decisions.” Review of Financial Studies, 25 (2012), 29212958.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lau, S. T.; Ng, L.; and Zhang, B.. “The world price of home bias.” Journal of Financial Economics, 97 (2010), 191217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, J.; Naranjo, A.; and Sirmans, S.. “Exodus from Sovereign Risk: Global Asset and Information Networks in the Pricing of Corporate Credit Risk.” Journal of Finance, 71 (2016), 18131856.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levy, P.A Political-Economic Analysis of Free-Trade Agreements.” American Economic Review, 87 (1997), 506519.Google Scholar
Lileeva, A., and Trefler, D.. “Improved Access to Foreign Markets Raises Plant-level Productivity … for Some Plants.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 125 (2010), 10511099.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Melitz, M.The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity.” Econometrica, 71 (2003), 16951725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Melitz, M., and Trefler, D.. “Gains from Trade When Firms Matter.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 26 (2012), 91118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merton, R. C.A Simple Model of Capital Market Equilibrium with Incomplete Information.” Journal of Finance, 42 (1987), 483510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pool, V. K.; Stoffman, N.; and Yonker, S. E.. “No Place Like Home: Familiarity in Mutual Fund Manager Portfolio Choice.” Review of Financial Studies, 25 (2012), 25632599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Portes, R., and Rey, H.. “The Determinants of Cross-Border Equity Flows.” Journal of International Economics, 65 (2005), 269296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schumacher, D.Home Bias Abroad: Domestic Industries and Foreign Portfolio Choice.” Review of Financial Studies, 31 (2017), 16541706.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UNCTAD, “World Investment Report: Investment and the Digital Economy.” (2017).Google Scholar
Van Nieuwerburgh, S., and Veldkamp, L.. “Information Immobility and the Home Bias Puzzle.” Journal of Finance, 64 (2009), 11871215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Moshirian et al. supplementary material

Online Appendix

Download Moshirian et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 212.7 KB