The secondary market for bank shares in nineteenth-century Britain

Citation

Acheson G & Turner JD (2008) The secondary market for bank shares in nineteenth-century Britain. Financial History Review, 15 (2), pp. 123-151. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0968565008000139

Abstract
Stock transferability and liquidity are viewed as vital characteristics of capital markets. Surprisingly, we know very little about the level of trading activity on, and liquidity of the market for, company stock during the rapid growth of the British capital market in the nineteenth century. This article attempts to shed some light on this important issue by examining the market for bank shares using trading data collected from bank archives. Our evidence suggests that trading activity and liquidity changed imperceptibly over the century. We also find that ownership structure is a major determinant of trading activity and liquidity; whereas shareholder liability regimes don't appear to affect liquidity.

Journal
Financial History Review: Volume 15, Issue 2

• Acheson and Turner_Financial History Review_2008.pdf