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Trading on inside information: Evidence from the share-structure reform in China

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  • Tong, Wilson H.S.
  • Zhang, Shaojun
  • Zhu, Yanjian

Abstract

We examine stock trading activities in days before Chinese listed firms made public announcement to start share-structure reform. There is significant evidence that, relative to a benchmark period, institutional investors bought more event firms’ shares in the last two trading days prior to announcement. Randomization tests show significant differences in institutional trading activities between event firms and matched control firms, which suggests that some institutions had inside information. Moreover, large trades account for a significant proportion of daily stock price changes in the last 2days. The evidence is consistent with the prediction by Holden and Subrahmanyam (1992) that, when multiple informed investors acquire the same piece of information, they will trade aggressively. We also find that over the reform period, the median share value change of event firms is 6% higher than that of control firms. Our findings have important implications for enforcement of insider trading regulations in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Tong, Wilson H.S. & Zhang, Shaojun & Zhu, Yanjian, 2013. "Trading on inside information: Evidence from the share-structure reform in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1422-1436.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:37:y:2013:i:5:p:1422-1436
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.09.024
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    3. Li, Tao & Ji, Yu, 2021. "Institutional ownership and insider trading profitability: Evidence from an emerging market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Tang, Xuesong & Lin, Yan & Peng, Qing & Du, Jun & Chan, Kam C., 2016. "Politically connected directors and firm value: Evidence from forced resignations in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 148-167.
    5. Sun, Fangcheng & Dutta, Shantanu & Huang, Hui & Zhu, Pengcheng, 2021. "News media and insider trading profitability: An emerging country perspective," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    6. Liu, Xiaojun & Wang, Li & Dai, Yunhao, 2023. "Capital market liberalization and opportunistic insider sales: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Huang, Wei & Wright, Brian, 2015. "Analyst earnings forecast under complex corporate ownership in China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 69-84.
    8. Robert M. Bowen & Shantanu Dutta & Songlian Tang & Pengcheng Zhu, 2018. "Inside the “black box” of private in-house meetings," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 487-527, June.
    9. Wang, Tong & Zhao, Sheng & Zhou, Mengqiu, 2022. "Does soft information in expert ratings curb information asymmetry? Evidence from crowdfunding and early transaction phases of Initial Coin offerings," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    10. Lo, Huai-Chun & Wu, Ruei-Shian & Kweh, Qian Long, 2017. "Do institutional investors reinforce or reduce agency problems? Earnings management and the post-IPO performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 62-76.
    11. Sun, Fangcheng & Dutta, Shantanu & Zhu, Pengcheng & Ren, Wentao, 2021. "Female insiders' ethics and trading profitability," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    12. Zhao, Wandi & Gao, Yang, 2023. "Network connectedness and the contagion structure of informed trading: Evidence from the time and frequency domains," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    13. Zijia Du & Alan Guoming Huang & Russ Wermers & Wenfeng Wu, 2022. "Language and Domain Specificity: A Chinese Financial Sentiment Dictionary [The effects of analyst-country institutions on biased research: Evidence from target prices]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(3), pages 673-719.
    14. Gao, Shenghao & Meng, Qingbin & Chan, Kam C. & Wu, Weixing, 2017. "Earnings management before IPOs: Are institutional investors misled?," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 90-108.
    15. Alhaj-Yaseen, Yaseen S. & Rao, Xi & Jin, Yinghua, 2017. "Market liberalization and the extent of informed trading: Evidence from China’s equity markets," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 78-99.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regulation of insider trading in China; Share-structure reform; Stealth trading;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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