Market Momentum

de Stephen Satchell, Andrew Grant

Broadly, financial market momentum occurs when past high returns are followed by subsequent high returns, while past low returns are similarly followed by subsequent low returns. It is claimed that the momentum phenomenon contravenes the Efficient Markets Hypothesis. Consequently, it has been the subject of considerable study by behavioral economists. There are many books already published on momentum, but they have in common the characteristic that they are written by practitioners and aim to tell people how to get rich. There is a gap in the market for a holistic approach to the topic for both investment professionals and higher-level students, focusing on behavioral and statistical explanations for momentum, while also exploring the practical side of implementation.