Moored Minds: An Experimental Insight into the Impact of the Anchoring and Disposition Effect on Portfolio Performance

Abstract

This study investigates the anchoring bias and disposition effect in investor trading decisions under different market volatility conditions (stable and volatile markets) and examines their impact on portfolio performance. Employing a quasi-experimental design, participants engage in interactive trading with four securities—two with potential negative returns and two with positive returns—within a simulated asset market. The findings reveal the presence of both the disposition effect and the anchoring bias among individual investors in India. Notably, market volatility influences these behavioral biases, with the disposition effect more pronounced in volatile markets, while the anchoring bias is significant in stable markets. Furthermore, investors exhibiting the disposition effect tend to have lower portfolio performance, while those influenced by the anchoring bias achieve relatively better results. These insights can aid individual investors in recognizing their behavioral biases and making informed trading decisions to enhance portfolio performance. Additionally, this study presents valuable suggestions to financial institutions and regulatory government agencies engaged in similar experiments, with the goal of improving financial decision-making and investment behavior.