Style analysis and dominant index timing : an application to Australian multi-sector managed funds

Using a returns-based style analysis approach, we develop a dominant timing indicator to measure each fund's ability to take advantage of movements in their dominant passive index. We apply this to a sample of Australian multi-sector funds over the period 1990 to 2005. We find evidence that the dominant timing metric presents a more positive picture of fund timing ability in comparison to traditional timing measures; however, the majority of funds are still unable to time their dominant index effectively.