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Chinese Journal of Management Science ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1): 41-59.doi: 10.16381/j.cnki.issn1003-207x.2024.0795

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Stock Return Synchronicity: A Unified Framework of Information and Noise

Zhenxi Chen1(), Jinghan Li1, Wei Zhang2   

  1. 1.School of Economics and Finance,South China University of Technology,Guangzhou 510006,China
    2.College of Management and Economics,Tianjin University,Tianjin 300072,China
  • Received:2024-05-20 Revised:2024-10-14 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2026-01-29
  • Contact: Zhenxi Chen E-mail:chenzx@scut.edu.cn

Abstract:

Clarifying the source of stock return synchronicity is pivotal in determining stock market efficiency. Existing literature on stock return synchronicity contains two strands. One believes that information determines the variation of stock return synchronicity, while the other posits that noise unrelated to information shapes stock return synchronicity. Despite such contradictive explanations, stock return synchronicity is driven by both micro-level and macro-level factors. The complexity and contradiction of stock return synchronicity incur difficulty in using stock return synchronicity as a market efficiency indicator. The source and the application of stock return synchronicity in a unified framework are addressed. Based on a heterogeneous agents model, the role of rational and irrational factors from micro and macro perspectives is theoretically formulized and empirically investigated in shaping stock return synchronicity. It is discovered that the reveal of firm-specific information and stock-level irrational behaviors alleviate stock return synchronicity. In addition, market-level fundamental information and irrational noise trading intensify stock return synchronicity while high-beta stocks possess higher stock return synchronicity. The complexity of stock return synchronicity suggests that stock return synchronicity and market efficiency are interchangeable only with additional conditions. The effectiveness of interpreting stock return synchronicity as a market efficiency indicator is discussed by investigating the role of stock analysts. It is shown that the alleviation of stock return synchronicity by stock analysts is primarily driven by the reveal of firm-specific information. However, stock analysts fuel irrational behaviors as well. A market efficiency indicator is reconstructed by reorganizing the rational and irrational components of stock return synchronicity. In general, stock analysts improve market efficiency. The guidance and suggestions are provided for applying stock return synchronicity to measure market efficiency and for enhancing the practical significance of stock return synchronicity.

Key words: stock return synchronicity, fundamental information, irrational behavior

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