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Short sales constraints and price adjustments to earnings announcements: Evidence from the Hong Kong market

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  • Bai, Min
  • Qin, Yafeng

Abstract

This study examines how short sales constraints affect the stock price adjustment to the release of public information in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Using a unique feature of this market that allows us to directly investigate the impact of short sales restriction, we find the following. First, non-shortable stocks react more strongly to the publication of negative information than shortable stocks do. Second, non-shortable stocks are overpriced before negative earnings announcements. Hence, part of the strong market reaction of non-shortable stocks on announcement day could be due to the correction of such overpricing. Third, the prices of non-shortable stocks reverse following the announcement of negative information, suggesting that investors overreact to negative information on announcement day. Fourth, it takes longer for the prices of non-shortable stocks to adjust to negative earnings information. On the whole, our results support the research that finds short sales restrictions reduce the efficiency of stock markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Bai, Min & Qin, Yafeng, 2015. "Short sales constraints and price adjustments to earnings announcements: Evidence from the Hong Kong market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 304-315.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:42:y:2015:i:c:p:304-315
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2015.08.006
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    Cited by:

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    3. Liu, Hao & Zhang, Qun, 2021. "Firm age and realized idiosyncratic return volatility in China: The role of short-sales constraints," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Siu Kai Choy & Hua Zhang, 2019. "Public news announcements, short-sale restriction and informational efficiency," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 197-229, January.
    5. Haiyan Jiang & Ahsan Habib & Mostafa Monzur Hasan, 2022. "Short Selling: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Future Research," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 1-31, January.
    6. Li, Shan & Mihaylov, George & Peranginangin, Yessy & Zurbruegg, Ralf, 2021. "Short selling patterns in cross-listed stocks," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    7. Ersan, Oguz & Simsir, Serif Aziz & Simsek, Koray D. & Hasan, Afan, 2021. "The speed of stock price adjustment to corporate announcements: Insights from Turkey," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    8. Alwathnani, Abdulaziz M. & Dubofsky, David A. & Al-Zoubi, Haitham A., 2017. "Under-or-overreaction: Market responses to announcements of earnings surprises," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 160-171.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Short sales constraints; Earnings announcement; Post-event analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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