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Ownership Structure and Insider Trading: Evidence from China

Author

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  • Qing He

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Oliver M. Rui

    (China Europe International Business School)

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the information content of insider transactions in China and analyze how ownership structures shape market reaction to these transactions. We find that the cumulative abnormal return (CAR) to insider purchases is a convex function of the percentage of shares owned by the largest shareholder. Further, the CAR to insider purchases is lower when the largest shareholder is government-related, or when the control rights of the largest shareholder exceed its cash flow rights. We also find that the market reaction to insider purchases is more positive for firms audited by Big4 auditors. However, we do not find a significant relationship between an ownership structure and the market reaction to insider sales. Our results are remarkably robust to alternative model specifications, corporate insider identities, and recent corporate news releases on price-sensitive events. Finally, we show that market reaction to insider purchases is larger for firms with less severe expropriations, as captured by the use of other receivables.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing He & Oliver M. Rui, 2016. "Ownership Structure and Insider Trading: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(4), pages 553-574, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:134:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-014-2384-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2384-4
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    Cited by:

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    3. He, Qing & Liu, Junyi & Zhang, Ce, 2021. "Exchange rate exposure and its determinants in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Zhao, Wanlong & Zhang, Wei & Xiong, Xiong & Zou, Gaofeng, 2021. "How insiders utilize their information advantages in their trading: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    5. Li, Tao & Ji, Yu, 2021. "Institutional ownership and insider trading profitability: Evidence from an emerging market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Goergen, Marc & Renneboog, Luc & Zhao, Yang, 2019. "Insider trading and networked directors," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 152-175.
    7. He, Qing & Li, Xiaoyang, 2020. "The failure of Chinese peer-to-peer lending platforms: Finance and politics," BOFIT Discussion Papers 27/2020, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
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    9. Sun, Fangcheng & Dutta, Shantanu & Zhu, Pengcheng & Ren, Wentao, 2021. "Female insiders' ethics and trading profitability," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    10. Chen, Yanyan, 2022. "Does political turnover affect corporate investment? Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    11. Andrew M. Bauer & Junxiong Fang & Jeffrey Pittman & Yinqi Zhang & Yuping Zhao, 2020. "How Aggressive Tax Planning Facilitates the Diversion of Corporate Resources: Evidence from Path Analysis†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(3), pages 1882-1913, September.
    12. Qing He & Dongxu Li & Liping Lu & Terence Tai Leung Chong, 2019. "Institutional Ownership and Private Equity Placements: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 19(2), pages 315-346, June.
    13. Chen, Yanyan & Tian, Gary Gang & Yao, Daifei Troy, 2019. "Does regulating executive compensation impact insider trading?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-20.
    14. Feng, Yitian, 2023. "Do listed companies fulfill their public commitments? Evidence from the stake-raising commitments of Chinese companies," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Sun, Fangcheng & Dutta, Shantanu & Huang, Hui & Zhu, Pengcheng, 2021. "News media and insider trading profitability: An emerging country perspective," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    16. Mazza, Paolo & Wang, Shiyu, 2021. "Corporate legal insider trading in China: Performance and determinants," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    17. He, Qing & Li, Xiaoyang, 2021. "The failure of Chinese peer-to-peer lending platforms: Finance and politics," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    18. He, Qing & Huang, Jiyuan & Li, Dongxu & Lu, Liping, 2016. "Banks as corporate monitors: Evidence from CEO turnovers in China," BOFIT Discussion Papers 19/2016, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    19. Qing He & Zongxin Qian & Zhe Fei & Terence Tai-Leung Chong, 2019. "Do speculative bubbles migrate in the Chinese stock market?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 735-754, February.
    20. Liu, Xiaojun & Wang, Li & Dai, Yunhao, 2023. "Capital market liberalization and opportunistic insider sales: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    21. He, Qing & Li, Xiaoyang, 2020. "The failure of Chinese peer-to-peer lending platforms : Finance and politics," BOFIT Discussion Papers 27/2020, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    22. He, Qing & Huang, Jiyuan & Li, Dongxu & Lu, Liping, 2016. "Banks as corporate monitors: Evidence from CEO turnovers in China," BOFIT Discussion Papers 19/2016, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    23. Ryu, Doojin & Yang, Heejin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2022. "Insider trading and information asymmetry: Evidence from the Korea Exchange," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    24. repec:zbw:bofitp:2020_027 is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Qiu, Ying & He, Hua & Xiao, Gang, 2018. "The information content of insider trading: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 126-131.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Insider trading; Ownership structure; Audit quality; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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