The determinants of foreign trading volume of stocks listed in multiple markets

• We examine determinants of the foreign trading distribution of cross-listed stocks.
• Possible differences in the determinants across the host markets are also examined.
• Large, liquid, and lower information cost markets attract higher trading volume.
• Diversification, risk and information factor are vital for investors in US markets.
• Trading cost is important for investors in European markets.

We examine the determinants of the foreign trading volume of European stocks listed in multiple markets. The results suggest that stocks that cross-list in foreign markets that are larger and more liquid than their home markets, and stocks for which foreign investors acquire information at a lower cost, experience higher volumes of trade in foreign markets. Stocks that are cross-listed in the US are more attractive to foreign traders than those cross-listed in European markets. Differences in motives to trade in American vs. European markets are also uncovered. Among the fundamental motives to trade, diversification benefit and stock risk are more important for investors trading in American markets while the difference in trading costs is more vital for investors in European markets. Among the informational motives to trade, the firm's presence in foreign product markets and the foreign information factor are significant determinants of trading in American markets but not in European markets.