THE IMPORTANCE OF LIQUIDITY AS A FACTOR IN ASSET PRICING

We employ the Fama-French time-series regression approach to examine liquidity as a risk factor affecting stock returns. Prior studies establish liquidity as an important consideration in investment decisions. Here, liquidity is found to be an important factor affecting portfolio returns, even after the effects of market, size, book-to-market equity, and momentum are considered. Nonzero intercepts remain, however, indicating continued missing risk factors. 2007 The Southern Finance Association and the Southwestern Finance Association.