Seeing or believing? Cross-listing and the earnings response

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-685
Author(s):  
Madhurima Bhattacharyay ◽  
Feng Jiao
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Analyst Coverage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Firms ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Cross Listing ◽  
Earnings Response ◽  
The Usa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine two contrasting mechanisms of information asymmetry for cross-listed firms with respect to the information environment and its impact on earnings response. Design/methodology/approach The study empirically assesses two mechanisms of information asymmetry (“seeing” and/or “believing”) by looking at abnormal returns and volume reactions to international firms’ earnings announcements pre- and post-listing in the USA from 1990 to 2012. Findings The authors’ findings indicate that investors “seeing” more (media and analyst coverage) decrease the earnings response; however, “believing” more or gaining more credibility has the opposite effects. Based on the results, both mechanisms of information asymmetry can take effect simultaneously. Research limitations/implications The study sheds light on the multi-dimensional impact of the improved information environment that non-US firms face when they list their securities on US exchanges. Originality/value This study identifies and reconciles these two mechanisms of information asymmetry (visibility and credibility) under one setting and estimates the magnitude of each effect empirically.

Do financial blogs serve an infomediary role in capital markets?

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K. Rickett
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Capital Markets ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retail Investors

Purpose – Financial blogs provide an online platform whereby retail investors effortlessly gain access to an abundant array of investment guidance. Prior studies find that the market reacts to financial blogs and similar online venues but results are inconsistent and financial blogs, a growing area in new media and distinct from other online venues, have received little attention. The purpose of this paper is to examine the particular conditions in which financial blogs serve an infomediary role in capital markets; when information asymmetry is high, earnings quality is low, and during economic uncertainty. These are conditions in which retail investors may seek easily accessible advice for their investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach – Abnormal returns for firms mentioned in blog posts on the SeekingAlpha.com financial blog are examined using a multivariate regression to determine whether or not the market reaction associated with these posts is related to information asymmetry, earnings quality, and economic uncertainty. Findings – Results indicate that abnormal returns are associated with the SeekingAlpha.com financial blog when information asymmetry is high and during bearish market conditions, and in particular when buy recommendations are posted on the blog for firms with high information asymmetry. This association is strengthened for firms with low institutional ownership, a proxy for unsophisticated or retail investors. Research limitations/implications – Results are based on a sample collected during a specific time period in order to detect whether financial blogs serve an infomediary role during uncertain market conditions. Practical implications – Results of this study can be useful to company executives who may want to monitor investment advice posted about their firm on financial blogs. Financial blogs and other forms of social media such as Twitter and Facebook are becoming the “new normal” in the investor information environment, a trend that is likely to continue. Originality/value – Financial blogs provide an abundance of supplemental information demanded by investors. Financial blogs represent a form of “new media,” now considered a key component of firms’ information environment (Saxton, 2012). In contrast to prior studies which primarily investigate only whether the market reacts to financial blogs or similar online platforms such as stock message boards, this study attempts to understand the specific conditions in which the market reacts to financial blogs. The results provide a rationale as to when and why investors rely on financial blogs and whether financial blogs serve an infomediary role in capital markets.

CEO social capital and asset sell-offs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Danso ◽  
Margarita Kaprielyan ◽  
Md Miran Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽  
Market Model ◽  
Good Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Announcement Returns

PurposeRecent studies explore how chief executive officer (CEO) social capital affects corporate decision-making. Well-connected CEOs can have greater access to information, which can lead to better corporate decisions or permit them to amass power from hierarchy status and make self-serving decisions. This study examines whether investors perceive CEO social capital as a signal of good decision-making (assuming information asymmetry) surrounding asset sell-off events.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use multivariate regression analysis to examine the effect of CEO social capital on the cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) of the asset buyers and sellers. CARs are estimated using a market model in the period proximate to asset sell-off announcements.FindingsThe authors find that CEO social capital is positively associated with announcement returns of the asset sellers. Moreover, the positive effect of CEO social capital on announcement returns is more pronounced for sellers facing greater information asymmetry. An analysis of post-announcement stock performance reveals that the seller CEO social capital is associated with additional value generated for the shareholders of the seller after a month from the announcement date, especially if the transaction price is disclosed. Overall, findings are consistent with the argument that CEO social capital provides value in high information asymmetry environment.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge this is the first study to examine the effect of CEO social capital on the shareholders' wealth created by divestitures.

scholarly journals Intangible investments and voluntary delisting

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-243
Author(s):  
Henry Agyei-Boapeah ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Abongeh A. Tunyi ◽  
Michael Machokoto ◽  
Fan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Stock Markets ◽  
Intangible Assets ◽  
Stock Exchanges ◽  
Accounting Fraud ◽  
Chinese Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
The Cost

Purpose Drawing on a cost–benefit perspective, this paper aims to explore the relation between information asymmetry and the decision to delist from stock exchanges during periods of uncertainty. Specifically, it investigates the role of firms’ intangible investments and the availability of alternative sources of finance on the decision to delist from foreign stock markets. Design/methodology/approach The study takes advantage of a natural experiment in which cross-listed Chinese firms facing uncertainty in US markets because of widespread allegations of accounting fraud decide on whether to remain listed or voluntarily delist. The decision to delist is modelled as a function of the level of information asymmetry between firms and their stakeholders and the availability of alternative financing, while controlling for other drivers of firms’ delisting decision. The data used in the empirical analyses cover a hand-collected sample of 91 Chinese firms voluntarily delisting from US stock markets between 2010 and 2016. This sample is matched with an equal sample of Chinese firms, which remained listed in US stock markets during the same period. A probit regression model accounting for fixed effects is used. Findings There is a significant positive relationship between investments in intangible assets and firms’ decision to delist. Moreover, the positive intangibles−delisting nexus is accentuated by the availability of alternative sources of financing. Collectively, the results are consistent with the theoretical argument that the higher information asymmetry associated with intangible assets may increase the cost of staying listed on stock exchanges, particularly in periods of uncertainty (captured in this study by accounting fraud allegations targeting cross-listed firms). The results have important implications for corporate managers, capital market participants and policymakers. Practical implications Policymakers and standard setters must continue to work to improve the accounting regulations of intangible assets and to promote the adoption of global accounting standard across both emerging and advanced economies. Originality/value The study exploits a unique natural experimental setting to explore why cross-listed firms delist. The underlying theoretical framework to explain delisting is new. This framework captures the role of information asymmetry, uncertainty and alternative financing in explaining the cost and benefits of remaining listed on a foreign market.

The bonding hypothesis revisited: evidence from US class action lawsuits

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Coy ◽  
Kien D. Cao ◽  
Thuy T. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Spillover Effect ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Class Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Class Action Lawsuits ◽  
Bonding Hypothesis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Industry Peers ◽  
Negative Spillover

PurposeConsistent with an “absolute bonding hypothesis,” the benefits of listing on US exchanges experienced by cross-listed firms are accompanied by an increased risk of experiencing a spillover effect due to negative news within their industry. The purpose of this study is to test this form of the bonding hypothesis by analyzing the spillover effect to cross-listed firms when class action lawsuits are filed against their industry peers.Design/methodology/approachThe bonding hypothesis is tested by analyzing the spillover effect to non-sued cross-listed firms of class action lawsuits brought against US domestic firms in the same industry. The spillover effect is identified using cumulative abnormal returns around lawsuit filing dates from 1996 to 2020. A sample of matched non-sued cross-listed and domestic peer firms is evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis to identify country and firm-level characteristics that mitigate the negative spillover effect to cross-listed firms.FindingsWhile US firms realize significantly negative abnormal returns when class action suits are filed against their industry peers, the impact to cross-listed peers is statistically insignificant. In multivariate analyses, we show that the ability of cross-listed firms to avoid this negative spillover effect is stronger for firms with greater profitability that are headquartered in countries with better shareholder protections and governance characteristics.Originality/valueResults suggest that cross-listed firms may have a level of immunization from the negative industry spillover effect of class action lawsuits and, thus, exhibit only “partial bonding” to the US market.

Governmental customer concentration and audit pricing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmei Chen ◽  
Weishi Jia ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Zenghui Liu
Keyword(s):  
Audit Fees ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
External Monitoring ◽  
Variable Approach ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Treat All

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the concentration of a specific customer type – governmental customer, affects the pricing of audit services in the USA. Design/methodology/approach This paper applies a standard audit pricing model by regressing audit fees on governmental customer concentration and other common determinants of audit fees. This paper also adopts an instrumental variable approach and performs propensity-score matched sample analyzes to mitigate the potential endogeneity problem. Findings Using data from major customer disclosures of US publicly listed firms from 2000 to 2014, this paper finds that governmental customer concentration is positively associated with audit fees, suggesting that a higher level of governmental customer concentration increases a firm’s audit risks and audit effort. In addition, this paper performs cross-sectional analyzes and show that the association between governmental customer concentration and audit fees is more pronounced for firms with weak internal governance, weak external monitoring and high financial risks. Originality/value This paper furthers the understanding of the interactive relationships in supply chain systems and adds new evidence to the literature on customer concentration. Prior studies on customer concentration typically treat all customer types in a uniform manner. To the knowledge, this is the first study that separates governmental customers from other types of customers in an audit pricing setting. The findings highlight the importance of examining governmental customer concentration when assessing a firm’s audit risks and audit fees.

Employee mistreatment and information asymmetry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Unsal
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Equity Risk ◽  
Panel Fixed Effects ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

PurposeIn this paper, the author utilizes a unique hand-collected dataset of workplace lawsuits, violations and allegations to test the relation between employee mistreatment and information asymmetry.Design/methodology/approachThe author tests the impact of employee treatment on firms' information environment by utilizing the S&P 1500 firms of 17,663 firm-year observations, which include 2,992 unique firms and 5,987 unique CEOs between 2000 and 2016. These methods include panel fixed effects, as well as alternative measures of information asymmetry, event study and matched samples for further robustness tests.FindingsThe author finds that employee disputes exacerbate the information flow between insiders and outsiders. Further, the author reports that case characteristics, such as case outcome and case duration, aggravate that problem. The author documents that the positive relationship between employee mistreatment and information asymmetry is stronger for small firms and firms with smaller market power, as well as firms with a high level of equity risk.Originality/valueThis study is the first to investigate how employee relations influence a firm's information asymmetry. The author aims to contribute to the literature by studying (1) the relation between information asymmetry and employee mistreatment, (2) how firm characteristics affect the path from employee disputes to information asymmetry and (3) the influence of various other types of evidence of employee mistreatment beyond litigation on the information environment.

Powerful CEOs and earnings quality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-Rong Shiah-Hou
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Ceo Power ◽  
Structural Power ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Earnings Response Coefficient ◽  
Expert Power ◽  
Earnings Response ◽  
Ceo Characteristics

PurposeThis study explores the effect of CEO power on earnings quality. If powerful CEOs make the information environment more opaque, they can easily conceal information to hide self-dealing behavior through earnings manipulation. Conversely, if powerful CEOs who are well-protected create a transparent information environment, they will provide better quality earnings.Design/methodology/approachThe author constructs a composite index for CEO power by combining seven CEO characteristics and employs two variables including discretionary accruals and earnings response coefficient as proxies for earnings quality.FindingsThe author’s main results show a significant negative relation between CEO power and the firm's earnings quality. In addition, CEOs with stronger structural power and expert power are more likely to generate lower earnings quality, while those with stronger ownership power are more likely to provide higher earnings quality.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that CEO power reduces the firm's earnings quality because CEOs with structural power or expert power may destroy governance monitoring mechanisms.

scholarly journals Corporate dividend policy in practice: the views of Nigerian financial managers

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 1159-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friday Kennedy Ozo ◽  
Thankom Gopinath Arun ◽  
Philip Kostov ◽  
Godfrey Chidozie Uzonwanne
Keyword(s):  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
Developed Markets ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an additional insight into the dividend puzzle by investigating the field practice of dividend policy in an emerging market such as Nigeria. It also aims to contribute to the literature on industry-related dividend effect by examining whether managerial views on dividend policy vary between financial and non-financial firms. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs semi-structured interviews with the financial managers of 21 Nigerian listed firms. The interviewees were divided into two broad groups of financial vs non-financial firms based on the industry classification of the firms. Findings – The findings suggest that, despite differences in institutional environment, the dividend-setting process in Nigerian companies is similar in many extents to those in the USA and other developed markets. Nigerian companies exhibit dividend conservatism and typically focus on current earnings, stability of earnings and availability of cash when determining their current dividend levels. However, unlike in prior studies, the interviewees suggest that their companies do not have a target payout ratio; instead, they target the dividend per share when determining the disbursement level. Nevertheless, views regarding these issues vary significantly between financial and non-financial firms. Originality/value – This paper adds to the extant literature that has examined the behavioural aspects of dividend policy using interviews, especially in the context of less-developed markets such as Nigeria. The study also updates and extends prior evidence on an industry-related effect on managerial perceptions of dividend policy.

Fundamental analysis and the use of financial statement information to separate winners and losers in frontier markets: evidence from Vietnam

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuan Ho ◽  
Y Trong Nguyen ◽  
Hieu Truong Manh Tran ◽  
Dinh-Tri Vo
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Fundamental Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe pupose of the paper is to study the usefulness of Piotroski (2000)'s F-score in separating winners and losers in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a portfolio analysis and regression analysis on a sample of 501 of listed firms between 2009 and 2019 in Vietnam.FindingsThe authors find that a hedge strategy that buys high-F-score firms and sells low-F-score firms yield market-adjusted return of over 30 percent annually, which is statistically and economically significant. The hedge strategy based on F-score is not only profitable for value (high book-to-market [BM]) firms but also earn abnormal returns in a sample of growth (low BM) firms, suggesting that the usefulness of F-score strategy is not just a phenomenon in value firms as documented in previous literature.Research limitations/implicationsWhilst the authors' paper documents economically significant returns obtained from the F-score strategy, the authors do not examine what drives the abnormal returns.Practical implicationsThe results provide supporting evidence for the use of financial statement analysis as a screening tool to improve the performance of value investment in Vietnam stock market and for the training of financial reporting and fundamental analysis in universities.Originality/valueThe authors' research is the first study examining the F-score strategy in Vietnam that provides insights about the usefulness of fundamental analysis in separating winners and losers in a frontier market and contributes to the literature on fundamental analysis and market efficiency in emerging and frontier markets.

Would improved information environment of a less regulated OTC market benefit blue-chip foreign firms? Evidence from the OTCQX International Market

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kim ◽  
Steve Lin ◽  
Liu L Yang
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
International Market ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Cross Listing ◽  
Bonding Effect ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Blue Chip

This study examines whether improved information environment in the OTCQX International market (hereafter QX market) benefits blue-chip foreign private issuers (FPIs). We find that around 600 FPIs traded their stocks in the QX market during 2007-2016, and they are financially better than their home-country counterparts. We also find approximately 6% abnormal return around the cross-listing days. Moreover, FPIs with higher financial reporting transparency (i.e., lower earnings smoothness and preparing financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards) experience more pronounced abnormal returns and liquidity improvement around the cross-listing days. Further analysis shows that market premium of cross listing on the QX market is not attributed to the bonding effect. Our results highlight the importance of information environment of a less regulated OTC market in benefiting large and established FPIs, which should be of interest to market regulators, investors, and foreign firms that intend to access less regulated U.S. markets.

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