This paper examines whether two well‐known cognitive biases, disposition effect and skew preference, may reflect a common feature of certain investors. On the basis of a unique proprietary dataset that provides the details of all transactions in the Korean equity‐linked warrant (ELW) market between 2009 and 2011, we find that investors who realize gains faster than losses are also more likely to trade out‐of‐the‐money ELWs. Investors who are less (more) subject to both biases exhibit the best (worst) risk‐adjusted trading performance. Our findings suggest that disposition effect and skew preference occur simultaneously, which could adversely affect trading performance.

Conventional study on the trading pattern of investors is either done in the viewpoint of the identity of investors or analyzed on the base of investor's type, which is categorized according to the number of transactions using only restricted security company data. Dataset in this paper is extended to all ELW series and investor's type such as the LP (Liquidity Provider). High-frequency traders are categorized on the base of average number of transactions per day and average trading volume per day. We analyze their trading pattern and relationship between P/L (profit and loss) and their trading pattern. Also We develop a new measurement tool, called the holding period, to comprehend the characteristic of high frequency trading and analyze the effect of holding period on P/L of investors. Our empirical investigation shows that, for general investors, 1) their counterparties are LP during the execution of buy low and sell high trading strategy, 2) they lose in the cumulative P/L for the intermediate transaction although their average sell price is more expensive than average buy price, 3) due to the lack of risk management technique such as stop loss, they lose in the cumulative intermediate transaction P/L although their winning ratio is higher than losing ratio. On the other hand, 1) scalpers are mainly engaged in trading index ELW market, 2) due to the appropriate execution of stop loss, they win in the cumulative P/L for the intermediate transaction although their draw ratio and trading unit price are high. Meanwhile, due to the LP's passive characteristic for the buying execution after selling, their draw ratio is very low and their buy unit price is higher than sell unit price in comparison to other investor type, and their trading pattern is negatively related to that of the other investor type. Finally we confirm that the holding period is a significant impact on P/L of general investors and scalper. As a policy proposal, it is necessary to introduce a market maker system in the individual stock options market for activating the stock options market, which has a more competitive market structure than ELW market. In the viewpoint of financial consumer protection, education on the time value reduction of contingent claim derivatives with finite maturity is necessary.