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Market conditions, governance and the information content of insider trades

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  • Bhabra, Harjeet S.
  • Hossain, Ashrafee T.

Abstract

We examine the information content of Form-4 filings following extreme market downturns in the pre and post-Sarbanes–Oxley-Act (SOX) periods. We find that the announcement period abnormal returns under extreme market conditions are larger and this effect is stronger in the more tighter disclosure rules in the post-SOX period. Insider rank, corporate governance and proxies for information asymmetry are significantly related to the abnormal returns around the filing date. Overall, our results show that the more timely filing requirement introduced by SOX has been particularly beneficial for investors in firms with higher levels of information asymmetry, poor governance and during market downturns.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhabra, Harjeet S. & Hossain, Ashrafee T., 2015. "Market conditions, governance and the information content of insider trades," Review of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 1-11.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:revfin:v:24:y:2015:i:c:p:1-11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rfe.2014.10.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Chourou, Lamia & Hossain, Ashrafee T. & Kryzanowski, Lawrence, 2019. "Dual-class firms, M&As and SOX," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 176-187.
    2. Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Robert Nash & He (Helen) Wang, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and insider trading," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(4), pages 817-854, December.
    3. Bhabra, Harjeet S. & Hossain, Ashrafee T., 2017. "Impact of SOX on the returns to targets and acquirers in corporate tender offers," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1-19.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regulations; SOX; Insider trades; Information asymmetry; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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