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Shorting flows, public disclosure, and market efficiency

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  • Wang, Xue
  • Yan, Xuemin (Sterling)
  • Zheng, Lingling

Abstract

Shorting flows remain a significant predictor of negative future stock returns during 2010–2015, when daily short-sale volume data are published in real time. This predictability decays slowly and lasts for a year. Long-term shorting flows are more informative than short-term shorting flows. Indeed, abnormal short-term shorting flows do not predict future returns or anticipate bad news. We find that short sellers exploit prominent anomalies. A comparison with the Regulation SHO data indicates that the predictability is much shorter-term during 2005–2007. Short sellers appear to have shifted from trading on short-term private information to trading on long-term public information that is gradually incorporated into prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Xue & Yan, Xuemin (Sterling) & Zheng, Lingling, 2020. "Shorting flows, public disclosure, and market efficiency," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(1), pages 191-212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:135:y:2020:i:1:p:191-212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.05.018
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanauer, Matthias X. & Lesnevski, Pavel & Smajlbegovic, Esad, 2023. "Surprise in short interest," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    2. Luu, Ellie & Xu, Fangming & Zheng, Liyi, 2023. "Short-selling activities in the time of COVID-19," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    3. Lin, Chaonan & Chen, Hong-Yi & Ko, Kuan-Cheng & Yang, Nien-Tzu, 2021. "Time-dependent lottery preference and the cross-section of stock returns," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 272-294.
    4. Shi, Yongdong & Wang, Haomiao & Xia, Yu & Zhen, Hongxian, 2023. "Mispricing and anomalies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Lin, Chaonan & Ho, Hsiao-Wei & Ko, Kuan-Cheng, 2023. "Shorting flows and return predictability in Taiwan," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Jia, Yuecheng & Simkins, Betty & Feng, Hongrui, 2023. "Political connections and short sellers," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Short sale; Public disclosure; Return predictability; Anomalies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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