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Insider trading returns and dividend signals

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  • Cheng, Louis T.W.
  • Davidson III, Wallace N.
  • Leung, T.Y.

Abstract

The literature shows that insider trading activities and dividends contain information content and serve as signals to firm value. If insider return is a proxy for information asymmetry, we should expect a positive relation between dividends and insider returns. Using a sample of unambiguous (good and bad) news concerning earnings and dividend announcements from Hong Kong firms, we show that information asymmetry is stronger for bad news firms with insider sales than good news firms with insider purchases. In addition, we improve the methodology of Khang and King [Khang, K., & King, T. H. D. (2006). Does dividend policy relate to cross-sectional variation in information asymmetry? Evidence from returns to insider trades. Financial Management, 35, 71-94] and provide evidence that dividend is a credible signal for measuring information asymmetry.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Louis T.W. & Davidson III, Wallace N. & Leung, T.Y., 2011. "Insider trading returns and dividend signals," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 421-429, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:20:y:2011:i:3:p:421-429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Daher, Wassim & Karam, Fida & Mirman, Leonard J., 2012. "Insider trading with different market structures," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 143-154.
    4. Nivelleau De La Brunière, Stanislas & Haye, Jean-Come & Mazza, Paolo, 2020. "The performance of corporate legal insiders on the French stock market," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    5. Stanislas Nivelleau de La Brunière & Jean-Come Haye & Paolo Mazza, 2020. "The performance of corporate legal insiders on the French stock market," Post-Print hal-02998232, HAL.
    6. Manos, Ronny & Murinde, Victor & Green, Christopher J., 2012. "Dividend policy and business groups: Evidence from Indian firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 42-56.
    7. Wu, Ruei-Shian, 2014. "Predicting earnings management: A nonlinear approach," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-25.
    8. Cheng, Louis T.W. & Leung, T.Y. & Yu, Wayne, 2014. "Information arrival, changes in R-square and pricing asymmetry of corporate news," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 67-81.
    9. Tavakoli, Manouchehr & McMillan, David & McKnight, Phillip J., 2012. "Insider trading and stock prices," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 254-266.

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