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The market reaction to green bond issuance: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Jiazhen
  • Chen, Xin
  • Li, Xiaoxia
  • Yu, Jing
  • Zhong, Rui

Abstract

This paper provides the first evidence of the debt and stock market reaction to corporate green bond issuance in the simultaneously largest developing economy and largest emerging debt market, China. Utilizing a most comprehensive sample of Chinese green bonds, we document a pricing premium of corporate green bonds relative to conventional bonds. The economic magnitude of the Chinese green bond pricing premium is greatly larger than that of an international green bond documented in prior studies. The pricing premium of corporate green bonds is most pronounced for new issues from high corporate social responsibility (CSR) issuers and underwriters. It is also stronger for corporate issuers with less ownership concentration and held by long-term institutional investors. Further analysis reveals positive announcement stock returns for green bond new issues, consistent with the stakeholder value maximization theory that corporate engagement in sustainable financing practice increases firm value in a long run and thus is favored by shareholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Jiazhen & Chen, Xin & Li, Xiaoxia & Yu, Jing & Zhong, Rui, 2020. "The market reaction to green bond issuance: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:60:y:2020:i:c:s0927538x19305487
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2020.101294
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green bonds; Bond underwriters; Social reputation; Stock market reaction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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