Does Financial Attitude Impact Trading Activity of Retail Investors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Sultanate of Oman?

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find out whether retail investor trading activity was influenced by their financial attitude during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research follows the descriptive and causal research design on a sample size of 87 retail investors obtained through snowball sampling method in which respondents were first identified with the help of financial advisors from five brokerage companies in Oman. The identified respondents were requested to forward the Google survey form to other participants. The study results reveal that the majority of the respondents were in agreement that they can be optimistic regardless of the current COVID-19 situation. There was found to be no difference in the mean rating given by Omanis and non-Omanis towards financial anxiety, optimism, financial security, precautionary savings, financial literacy, financial satisfaction, and risk involvement. Nationality matters only for investor confidence as the mean ratings given for it differ between Omanis and non-Omanis.