Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Veiga Helena 
Author-Name: Vorsatz Marc 
Author-workplace-name: METEOR
Title: Price Manipulation in an Experimental Asset Market
Abstract: We analyze in the laboratory whether an uninformed trader is able to manipulate the price of a financial asset. To do so, we compare the results of two different experimental treatments. In the Benchmark Treatment, twelve subjects trade a common value asset that takes either a high or a low value. Information is distributed asymmetrically, only three outof twelve subjects know the actual value of the asset. The Manipulation Treatment is identical to the Benchmark Treatment apart from the fact that we introduce a computer program as an additional trader. This manipulation program buys a fixed number of shares in the beginning of a trading period and sells them afterwards again. Our results show that the last contract price is significantly higher in the Manipulation Treatment if the asset takes a low value and that there are no price differences between the two treatments if the value of the asset is high. Moreover, this simple manipulation program is, at least in some instances, profitable.
Keywords: financial economics and financial management ; 
Series: Research Memoranda
Creation-Date: 2006
Number: 024
File-URL: http://digitalarchive.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fedora/objects/guid:148c6be0-a864-4339-9036-5e7bf7d75486/datastreams/ASSET1/content
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 438231
Handle: RePEc:unm:umamet:2006024