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Strategic trading and trade reporting by corporate insiders

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  • Betzer, André
  • Gider, Jasmin
  • Metzger, Daniel
  • Theissen, Erik

Abstract

Regulations in the pre-Sarbanes-Oxley era allowed corporate insiders considerable flexibility in strategically timing their trades and SEC filings, for example, by executing several trades and reporting them jointly after the last trade. We document that even these lax reporting requirements were frequently violated and that the strategic timing of trades and reports was common. Event study abnormal re-turns are larger after reports of strategic insider trades than after reports of otherwise similar nonstrategic trades. Our results also imply that delayed reporting is detrimental to market efficiency and lend strong support to the more stringent trade reporting requirements established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Suggested Citation

  • Betzer, André & Gider, Jasmin & Metzger, Daniel & Theissen, Erik, 2011. "Strategic trading and trade reporting by corporate insiders," CFS Working Paper Series 2011/04, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cfswop:201104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. André Betzer & Erik Theissen, 2010. "Sooner or Later: An Analysis of the Delays in Insider Trading Reporting," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1‐2), pages 130-147, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Insider Trading; Directors' Dealings; Corporate Governance; Market Efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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