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Margin-buying, short-selling, and stock valuation: Why is the effect reversed over time in China?

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  • Wan, Xiaoyuan

Abstract

China launched a pilot program in March 2010 to lift the ban on margin-buying and short-selling. Based on the first two batches of designated stocks, the literature documents that lifting the ban has a negative effect on stock valuation. However, we show that the effect has reversed to positive for the next six batches of designated stocks. We explore several potential explanations. Our analyses show that as short-selling volume grew at a much slower pace or even declined relative to margin-buying volume over our sample period, the positive effect of margin-buying on stock valuation has dominated the negative effect of short-selling. Both time-series and cross-sectional tests show that the imbalance between margin-buying and short-selling is the main driver of the reversal. We further show that the effect of lifting margin-buying and short-selling ban on stock price efficiency and discovery also reversed over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan, Xiaoyuan, 2024. "Margin-buying, short-selling, and stock valuation: Why is the effect reversed over time in China?," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:76:y:2024:i:c:s0927539824000112
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2024.101476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Margin-buying; Short-selling; Stock valuation; Price efficiency; Price discovery;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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