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Do investors affect financial analysts’ behavior? Evidence from short sellers

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  • Yun Ke
  • Kin Lo
  • Jinfei Sheng
  • Jenny Li Zhang

Abstract

We examine how short sellers affect financial analysts’ forecast behavior using a natural experiment that relaxes short‐sale constraints. We find that increased ease of short selling improves analyst earnings forecast quality by reducing forecast bias and increasing forecast accuracy. The improvements can be explained by both the disciplining pressure from short sellers and increased price efficiency from incorporating information in a timely manner. Although it is well documented that financial analysts can affect investors, our paper provides novel evidence on how sophisticated investors, short sellers, can affect analysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Yun Ke & Kin Lo & Jinfei Sheng & Jenny Li Zhang, 2023. "Do investors affect financial analysts’ behavior? Evidence from short sellers," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 52(1), pages 199-224, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:52:y:2023:i:1:p:199-224
    DOI: 10.1111/fima.12411
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    Cited by:

    1. Tianyu Cai & Lixiong Guo & Yongxian Tan, 2024. "Short seller monitoring and real earnings management," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(1), pages 203-225, February.

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