Idiosyncratic volatility and excess Return: Evidence from the Greater China region

This study uses monthly data from the Greater China region from 1996 to 2010 to examine the relation between idiosyncratic volatility (IV) and excess returns (ER). We show an insignificant IV-ER relation in the Hong Kong and Taiwan stock markets. A positive relation is found in the Shanghai stock market, but the positive relation disappears after the market liberalization in April 2005. Our finding supports Merton's (1987) theory that excess return and idiosyncratic volatility are positively related when asset diversification is restricted.