Random Walk Tests for Latin American Equity Indexes and Individual Firms
Terrance Grieb
University of Idaho
Mario G. Reyes
University of Idaho
Abstract
In this study we re-examine the presence of random walk in stock prices in Brazil and Mexico . We employ variance ratio tests on weekly stock returns for indexes as well as individual firms. The results reveal mean aversion in Mexico at both the index and firm level. In contrast, the Brazil indexes show a greater tendency toward random walk; however, the results for the individual firms suggest mean reversion. The results cannot be attributed to a firm size effect. Evidence is presented in favor of a greater degree of non-synchronous trading for Brazilian securities than for Mexican securities.
An Empirical Examination of Financial Liberalization and the Efficiency of Emerging Market Stock Prices
Hiroyuki Kawakatsu
University of California , Irvine
Matthew R. Morey
Fordham University
Abstract
The efficient markets hypothesis in finance suggests that as equity markets are liberalized and made more open to the public, equity prices should reflect the increased availability of information and be more efficiently priced. In this paper, we examine whether emerging market equity prices have become more efficient after financial liberalization. Using two sets of financial liberalization dates, a battery of econometric tests, and data from sixteen countries and three composite portfolios, we find that in spite of theory suggesting the opposite, liberalization does not seem to have improved the efficiency of emerging markets. In fact, most of our statistical tests indicate that the markets were already efficient before the actual liberalization.
Information Asymmetry, Management Control and Method of Payment in Acquisitions
Ken Yook
Johns Hopkins University
Partha Gangapadhyay
St. Cloud State University
George M. McCabe
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
We examine the information asymmetry hypothesis and the management control hypothesis by examining the relation between insider trading and insider holdings to the choice of payment method in acquisitions. Our results indicate that both insider ownership and insider trading are significantly related to payment method. These results provide additional evidence in favor of both the management control theory and the asymmetric information theory in the choice of payment method in acquisitions. Furthermore, we find a significant relation between insider trading activity and the market reaction to the announcement of acquisitions. We conclude that information asymmetry exists in the takeover market and it influences the payment method decision.
The Effect of Institutional Interest on the Information Content of Dividend-Change Announcements
Sadhana Alangar
Wayne State University
Chenchuramaiah T. Bathala
Cleveland State University
Ramesh P. Rao
Texas Tech University
Abstract
We test the hypothesis that the information content of dividend change announcements, as reflected in stock prices, is directly related to the degree of pre-announcement information asymmetry in the stock. The dividend change announcements include initiations, large increases, large decreases, and omissions. Information asymmetry is proxied by the proportion of stock held by institutions. Consistent with the hypothesis, we document a significantly positive relation between the absolute values of the announcement-period excess returns and the degree of pre-announcement information asymmetry in the stock. This finding appears to hold for all types of dividend changes except dividend omissions.
Market Volatility and Perverse Timing Performance of Mutual Fund Managers
David A. Volkman
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Abstract
We test the hypothesis that the information content of dividend change announcements, as reflected in stock prices, is directly related to the degree of pre-announcement information asymmetry in the stock. The dividend change announcements include initiations, large increases, large decreases, and omissions. Information asymmetry is proxied by the proportion of stock held by institutions. Consistent with the hypothesis, we document a significantly positive relation between the absolute values of the announcement-period excess returns and the degree of pre-announcement information asymmetry in the stock. This finding appears to hold for all types of dividend changes except dividend omissions.
Linear Conditional Expectation, Return Distributions and Capital Asset Pricing Theories
K.C. John Wei
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Cheng F. Lee
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Alice C. Lee
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Abstract
We show that E[X×g(Y1, .., Yn)] (where E[.] is the expectation operator) can be decomposed into a product of two expected values plus a sum of n co-movement terms, if X, Y1, ..., Yn follow a distribution that admits linear conditional expectation (LCE). We then apply this relation to show that if each asset return is LCE distributed with the market and/or the factors, many capital asset pricing models and the mutual fund separation theorem can be obtained. A well-known example of a class of distributions that admits LCE is the elliptical distributions, of which the normal is a special case. A larger family, not mentioned in the existing literature, that admits LCE is the Pearson system. As a result, the distribution assumption to derive the capital asset pricing theories can be relaxed to the wider LCE family. We also present the relation of the LCE family to Ross's separating distribution family.
Recent Growth in Nasdaq Trading Volume and Its Relation to Market Volatility
Steven Freund
University of Detroit-Mercy
Gwendolyn P. Webb
Baruch College , The City University of New York
Abstract
We document a significant increase in Nasdaq trading volume relative to that on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX). Although recent increases in the number of shares traded are reported in the financial press, we also find it present in the percentage of dollar values traded. We then examine correlations between trading volume and several measures of market volatility. Nasdaq volume appears to be more closely correlated with residual variance, while NYSE and AMEX volumes are more closely correlated with overall market variance. We conclude that the type and quantity of information driving trading are different on Nasdaq than on the two exchanges, and that the relative growth in Nasdaq volume cannot be attributed solely to differences in the methods of counting volume in the two market environments.
Further Evidence on Dividend Yields and the Ex-Dividend Day Stock Price Effect
Ravinder K. Bhardwaj
Winthrop University
LeRoy D. Brooks
University of South Carolina
Abstract
Ex-dividend day stock price behavior supports discreteness and tax clientele effects. The effects are still found after the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Results reflect an effective tax advantage for capital gains taxes payable at realization, versus dividend taxes due quarterly. Evidence also supports short-term trader participation in the ex-day phenomenon when the difference between dividend income and the ex-dividend day price decrease exceeds transaction costs to trade. Results contradict prior research where a tax clientele effect is not found, but align with the same prior research when including a small number of contaminated observations.