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Information asymmetry, price discovery, and the Chinese B-share discount puzzle

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  • Doukas, John A.
  • Wang, Liu

Abstract

This paper addresses the information asymmetry between Chinese local A-share and foreign B-share markets and its impact on the B-share discount puzzle, contingent upon Chinese stock market liberalization reforms in 2001 and 2002. In contrast with the widespread notion that domestic investors are better informed than foreign investors, this study shows that foreign investors actually possess more value-relevant, firm-specific information in emerging markets, where information transparency and investor protection rights are relatively weak. As such, the observed B-share discount is not compensation for the informational disadvantage of foreign investors but, rather, the result of a downward price correction (toward the fundamental values) once more firm-specific information is capitalized by sophisticated foreign investors in the B-share market. The price correction effect is significant even after controlling for several alternative explanations. Further investigation suggests a mitigated degree of information asymmetry and B-share discount upon market liberalization.

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  • Doukas, John A. & Wang, Liu, 2013. "Information asymmetry, price discovery, and the Chinese B-share discount puzzle," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1116-1135.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:21:y:2013:i:1:p:1116-1135
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2012.08.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information asymmetry; B-share discount; Price synchronicity; Market liberalization; China;
    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

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