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Insider trading and stock prices

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  • Tavakoli, Manouchehr
  • McMillan, David
  • McKnight, Phillip J.

Abstract

We examine the informational content of insider trades and its value to market investors using a US dataset. Overall, our results support the view that insider actions have positive predictive power for future returns. However, these results may come with some caveats. First, it is not the actions of all insiders (directors, officers and large shareholders) that have predictive power for future returns, but typically only those of directors and officers (senior management). Second, while director actions have predictive power for firm of all sizes, officers only have predictive power for small firms. The signal emanating from buys is stronger than the signal emanating from sells. Finally, the trading actions of directors, and to a lesser extent, officers have significant effects on the trading behaviour of other groups of insiders.

Suggested Citation

  • Tavakoli, Manouchehr & McMillan, David & McKnight, Phillip J., 2012. "Insider trading and stock prices," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 254-266.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:22:y:2012:i:1:p:254-266
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2011.11.004
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    2. Goergen, Marc & Renneboog, Luc & Zhao, Yang, 2019. "Insider trading and networked directors," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 152-175.
    3. Mazza, Paolo & Wang, Shiyu, 2021. "Corporate legal insider trading in China: Performance and determinants," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Azevedo, Alcino & Karim, Mohamad & Gregoriou, Andros & Rhodes, Mark, 2014. "Stock price and volume effects associated with changes in the composition of the FTSE Bursa Malaysian KLCI," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 20-35.
    5. M. Fevzi Esen & Emrah Bilgic & Ulkem Basdas, 2019. "How to detect illegal corporate insider trading? A data mining approach for detecting suspicious insider transactions," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 60-70, April.
    6. Nivelleau De La Brunière, Stanislas & Haye, Jean-Come & Mazza, Paolo, 2020. "The performance of corporate legal insiders on the French stock market," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    7. Sung, Ming-Chien & Johnson, Johnnie E.V. & McDonald, David C.J., 2016. "Informed trading, market efficiency and volatility," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 56-59.
    8. Stanislas Nivelleau de La Brunière & Jean-Come Haye & Paolo Mazza, 2020. "The performance of corporate legal insiders on the French stock market," Post-Print hal-02998232, HAL.
    9. Dagmar Linnertová & Oleg Deev, 2015. "Insider Trading Activities and Returns of German Blue Chips," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(6), pages 1995-2003.
    10. Shams, Syed M.M. & Duong, Huu Nhan & Singh, Harminder, 2016. "Information content of directors' trading around acquisitions," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 177-193.

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