Risk and Trading on London's Alternative Investment Market ― The Stock Market for Smaller and Growing Companies

The alternative investment market (AIM) has seen rapid growth over its 19 years, and has emerged as the market of choice for smaller, newer companies, both in the UK and abroad. However, it has often had a volatile reputation among investors, who have commonly perceived stock in the AIM as more risky than the main market.

In this book, a group of leading financial analysts conduct an extensive empirical study to compare the relative volatility of two UK equity markets run by the London Stock Exchange, over a ten year period. They analyse the comparative risks involved in the alternative investment market, the market of growing companies, and the 'main market', the market for more established companies.

This book analyses the volatility of the alternative investment market, using a variety of techniques and approaches. It compares the volatility of stocks in the markets, exploring variables such as size, industry, age and market switches. Using refined methods to focus on the difference between the markets, the authors provide a convincing study to challenge the idea that the alternative investment market is higher risk than the main market.

John Board is Dean at the Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, and was previously Director of the ICMA Centre, University of Reading, UK. His recent research has focused on the organisation and regulation of financial markets.

Alfonso Dufour is Associate Professor of Finance at the ICMA Centre, University of Reading, UK. He has a background in financial econometrics and has conducted extensive research on market structures, intraday dynamics of asset prices, and liquidity.

Yusuf Hartavi is currently pursuing his PhD in the area of market microstructure at the ICMA Centre, University of Reading, UK, having obtained an MSc in International Securities, Investment and Banking. He has held professional positions at UniCredit Group as an Internal Auditor and at Istanbul Development Agency, the local authority for regional development.

Charles Sutcliffe is Professor of Finance at the ICMA Centre, University of Reading, UK. Previously he was Professor of Finance and Accounting at the University of Southampton; Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science; and Northern Society Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Stephen Wells is an independent Consultant in Financial Market Development. His interest focuses on equity and bond markets in developed and developing countries, with particular emphasis on markets for smaller companies.