Performance and Persistence in Performance of Actively Managed Chinese Equity Funds

The aim of this study is to analyze performance of mutual funds of biggest emerging economy i.e. China. Examining Chinese mutual funds’ performance provides an opportunity to assess the ability of fund managers to outperform the benchmark market. We study the equity mutual funds of China by taking the sample of 707 funds for the period from 2004 to 2015 and evaluate their performance using Capital Asset Pricing Model, Fama–French three factor model and Carhart four factor model. It is found that mutual funds in China give better return than the benchmark market return which means that active management pays better than passive management in mutual fund industry. Moreover, this study also investigates the existence of persistence in the performance of mutual funds and findings indicate that mutual funds in China are not consistent in their performance. Winner (Top-Performing) funds of last year do not continue to be winner funds in the following year and loser funds of previous year give better return in the following year. Overall findings indicate the non-existence of persistence in the performance of Chinese mutual funds.