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Asymmetric trading by insiders – comparing abnormal returns and earnings prediction in Spain and Australia

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  • Igor Goncharov
  • Allan Hodgson
  • Suntharee Lhaopadchan
  • Sonia Sanabria

Abstract

type="main" xml:lang="en"> This paper examines whether the ‘external governance’ imposed by comparative financial accounting standards reduces the trading advantage of insiders. We do this by directly comparing insider trading returns and insider’s ability to predict future earnings from accruals in Spain and Australia. Results show higher excess returns and greater prediction of future earnings from conditioned insider trading in Australia that is then utilized by financial analysts to lower forecast errors – particularly in contrarian-based accruals trading. Possible explanations include: (i) a high asymmetric quality for market-based accruals, (ii) information transfer from informed insiders to uninformed insiders and financial analysts and (iii) a more timely dissemination of financial information in Spain through different ownership and governance structures.

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  • Igor Goncharov & Allan Hodgson & Suntharee Lhaopadchan & Sonia Sanabria, 2013. "Asymmetric trading by insiders – comparing abnormal returns and earnings prediction in Spain and Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(1), pages 163-184, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:53:y:2013:i:1:p:163-184
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-629X.2011.00461.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Yushu Zhu & Jennifer Gippel & Kathy Walsh, 2017. "Informed trading on debt covenant violations: the long and short of it," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(1), pages 289-315, March.
    2. Xiaoyan Chen & Allan Hodgson & Martina K. Linnenluecke, 2018. "Transferring and trading on insider information in the United States and Australia: just a case of happy hour drinks?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(S1), pages 83-95, November.
    3. Allan Hodgson & Michael Seamer & Katherine Uylangco, 2020. "Does stronger corporate governance constrain insider trading? Asymmetric evidence from Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(3), pages 2665-2687, September.
    4. Karen Benson & Peter M Clarkson & Tom Smith & Irene Tutticci, 2015. "A review of accounting research in the Asia Pacific region," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 40(1), pages 36-88, February.
    5. Diana MURESAN & Monica Ioana POP SILAGHI, 2014. "Empirical evidence on cross-country differences in explaining accruals anomaly," Romanian Journal of Economics, Institute of National Economy, vol. 39(2(48)), pages 121-132, December.

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