Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the behavior, the day-of-the-week regularities and the macroeconomic determinants of aggregate market liquidity of emerging stock markets through studying Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). The study investigates all the stocks traded in ASE over the period 2002-2010. Aggregate market liquidity is measured by several proxies, each reflecting a certain dimension. It is calculated as an average of individual stock liquidity proxies and as a sum of trading activity measures. Aggregate market liquidity shows a fluctuating pattern throughout the study period. It gets worse in the mid-week. Spread and depths show their maximum values on Mondays and Sundays, respectively. The trading activity reaches its minimum on Sunday and its maximum on Thursday. Major macroeconomic factors significantly affect aggregate market liquidity, though; aggregate market return and volatility exercise a larger effect. This study is the first to conduct a comprehensive analysis of aggregate market liquidity in an emerging stock market.

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