Gender and mutual fund liquidity

We examine whether US mutual funds managed by females have a higher portfolio liquidity than those of their male counterparts. Single female managers’ holdings are 8–25% more liquid than those of single-male-managed funds. When there is a transition from a male to a female manager, fund holdings liquidity increases compared with a male to male transition. The findings are consistent with the risk-averse and conservative decision-making behaviour of female managers. We do not find evidence to support the excessive trading hypothesis that predicts a higher portfolio liquidity for overconfident male fund managers. Our findings add to growing evidence that gender affects professionals’ investment choices.