A Fractal Statistical Analysis of Enron Stock Prices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj1402.02.20Keywords:
Enron stock prices, fractal dimension, investor losses, fractal statisticsAbstract
This study examined the stock prices of Enron for the periods 1997 to 2002 with the use of fractal statistical analysis. The researchers posited that, since stock prices are products of human decisions, it should follow a fractal distribution. Any deviation from this fractal distribution is deemed to represent interventions and manipulations. Using the fundamental theorem of fractal statistics, the results of the analysis revealed that Enron’s stock prices exhibit a hidden fractal dimension that, when uncovered, showed how it reflects the investors’ risk exposure in the periods before and after the fraud. The researchers also examined the fractal dimension of the cluster of stock prices found to exhibit a fractal distribution in the pre and post fraud periods. Results of the analysis led to the conclusion that the fractal dimension of stock prices can be an indicator of how close or how far stock prices are to its “natural†behaviour. The farther it moves from this natural state, the higher is the risk associated with it.
References
By Wall Street Journal staff reporters Jeanne Cummings, John R Emshwiller, Tom Hamburger, Scot J Paltrow, Jathon Sapsford, Ellen E Schultz, Randall Smith and,Rebecca Smith. (2002, Jan 15). Enron
lessons: Big political giving wins firms a hearing, doesn’t assure aid --- case also shows the need to shield 401(k) plans and oversee auditors --- why we had glasssteagall. Wall Street Journal Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/398874892?accountid=33262
By Kathryn Kranhold, Rick Wartzman and,John R. (2002, Apr 30). Following the trail: As enron inquiry intensifies, midlevel players face spotlight --- they could help prosecutors build a criminal case against top executives --- seven areas of vulnerability. Wall Street Journal Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/398965545?accountid=33262
Corazza, M., & Malliaris, A. (2002). MultiFractality in Foreign Currency Markets. Multinational Finance Journal, Vol. 6, 387-401. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1084659
Cunningham, G. M., & Harris, J. E. (2006). ENRON AND ARTHUR ADNDERSEN: THE CASE OF THE CROOKED E AND THE FALLEN
A. Global Perspectives on Accounting Education, 3, 27. Retrieved on February 17, 2015 from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203140401?accountid=33262
Fama, E. F. 1965. “The Behavior of Stock Prices,†Journal of Business, 37(January), 34-105.
Fishman, Michael J., and Kathleen M. Hagerty. 1992. “Insider Trading and the Efficiency of Stock Prices.†RAND Journal of Economics, 23(1): 106–122.
Hurst, H., 1951, “Long-term Storage of Reservoirs: An Experimental Study,†Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,
116, 770 – 799.
Laffont, Jean-Jacques, and Eric S. Maskin. 1990. “The Efficient Market Hypothesis and Insider Trading on the Stock Market.†The Journal of Political Economy, 98(1): 70–93.
Laura, N. B. (2007). Insider trading laws and stock markets around the world: An empirical contribution to the theoretical law and
economics debate. Journal of Corporation Law, 32(2), 237-300. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220768794?accountid=33262
Los, C. A., &Yalamova, R. M. (2004).Multi-fractal spectral analysis of the 1987 stock market crash. Available at SSRN 588823.
Ma, Y., & Huey-Lian, S. (1998). Where should the line be drawn on insider trading ethics? Journal of Business Ethics, 17(1), 67-75. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/198110410?accountid=33262
Madsen, S., & Vance, C. (2009). Unlearned lessons from the past: An insider’s view of enron’s downfall. Corporate Governance,9(2),
216-227. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14720700910946640
Malkiel, B. G. (1999). A random walk down Wall Street: including a life-cycle guide to personal investing. WW Norton & Company.
Manne, Henry G. 1966a. Insider Trading and the Stock Market. New York: Free Press.
Manne, Henry G. 1966b. “In Defense of Insider Trading.†Harvard Business Review, 44(6): 113–122.
Manove, Michael. 1989. “The Harm From Insider Trading and Informed Speculation.†The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 104(4): 823–845.
New York Times. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/enron/index.html?8qa
Padilla, A., & Gardiner, B. (2009). Insider trading: Is there an economist in the room? Journal of Private Enterprise, 24(2), 113-136.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215098961?account
id=33262
Peters, E. E. (1994). Fractal market analysis: applying chaos theory to investment and economics (Vol.24). John Wiley & Sons.
Remorov, R. (2014). Stock price and trading volume during market crashes. International Journal of Marketing Studies, 6(1), 21-30.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1510281809?accountid=33262
Stoll, H. R. (2006). Electronic trading in stock markets. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20 (1), 153-174. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/089533006776526067
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright of the Journal belongs to the University of San Jose-Recoletos