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Information Asymmetry and Asset Prices: Evidence from the China Foreign share discount

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  • Chan, Kalok

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit der Economische Wetenschappen en Econometrie (Free University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics Sciences, Business Administration and Economitrics)

  • Menkveld, Albert J.
  • Yang, Zhishu

Abstract

We examine the effect of information asymmetry on equity prices in the local A- and foreign Bshare market in China. We construct measures of information asymmetry based on market microstructure models, and find that they explain a significant portion of cross-sectional variation in B-share discounts, even after controlling for other factors. On a univariate basis, the price impact measure and the adverse selection component of the bid-ask spread in the A- and B-share markets explains 44% and 46% of the variation in B-share discounts. On a multivariate basis, both measures are far more statistically significant than any of the control variables. We also examine the behavior of B-share discounts after the B-share market was partially opened up to domestic investors after March 2001. Not only do we observe that B-share discounts decline from an average of 72% to 43%, but we also find that the differences in the adverse selection components across the markets shrink.

Suggested Citation

  • Chan, Kalok & Menkveld, Albert J. & Yang, Zhishu, 2006. "Information Asymmetry and Asset Prices: Evidence from the China Foreign share discount," Serie Research Memoranda 0005, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    • Handle: RePEc:vua:wpaper:2006-5
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information asymmetry; Asset prices; Microstructure; Market segmentation; Spread decomposition; PIN; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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