China began allowing short selling and margin trading in 90 stocks in March 2010. This event provides an opportunity to test the relative effect of margin trading and short selling. We find the prices of these 90 stocks decrease, on average, relative to peer stocks in China and cross-listed H-shares, suggesting that short selling dominates margin trading effects. Contrary to the regulators? intention, and recent empirical evidence, liquidity declines in the shortable stocks. This may imply avoidance of these stocks by uninformed investors. There is also evidence of higher bid-ask spreads following the regulation change.
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