IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/corfin/v93y2025ics0929119925000653.html

Registration system reform, information environment, and market manipulation

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Yangfa
  • Jiang, Ji
  • Liu, Jie
  • Liu, Xiao
  • Wu, Weili

Abstract

In 2019, Chinese stock market regulators launched a comprehensive reform of the IPO regulatory system, transitioning from the approval system to the registration system. Using this reform as a quasi-natural experiment, we investigate the impact of IPO systems on market manipulation. We find that the registration system reform significantly inhibits market manipulation by improving the quality of firms' information supply and reducing stock information asymmetry. In addition, our results indicate that the inhibitory effect of the registration system reform on market manipulation is more pronounced for firms with higher information exposure, greater information complexity, and a greater proportion of investors with better ability to interpret information. Further analyses show that the registration system reform also lowers trading values around manipulation events, and inhibits other types of trade-based manipulation and misconduct. This study sheds light on the crucial role of information transparency in financial markets' effectiveness and investor protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Yangfa & Jiang, Ji & Liu, Jie & Liu, Xiao & Wu, Weili, 2025. "Registration system reform, information environment, and market manipulation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:93:y:2025:i:c:s0929119925000653
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2025.102797
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929119925000653
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2025.102797?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yen-Cheng Chang & Alexander Ljungqvist & Kevin Tseng, 2023. "Do Corporate Disclosures Constrain Strategic Analyst Behavior?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(8), pages 3163-3212.
    2. Chang, Rosita P. & Rhee, S. Ghon & Stone, Gregory R. & Tang, Ning, 2008. "How does the call market method affect price efficiency? Evidence from the Singapore Stock Market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 2205-2219, October.
    3. Piotroski, Joseph D. & Zhang, Tianyu, 2014. "Politicians and the IPO decision: The impact of impending political promotions on IPO activity in China," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(1), pages 111-136.
    4. Fan, Joseph P.H. & Wong, T.J. & Zhang, Tianyu, 2007. "Politically connected CEOs, corporate governance, and Post-IPO performance of China's newly partially privatized firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 330-357, May.
    5. Cumming, Douglas & Peter Groh, Alexander & Johan, Sofia, 2018. "Same rules, different enforcement: Market abuse in Europe," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 130-151.
    6. Hutton, Amy & Shu, Susan & Zheng, Xin, 2022. "Regulatory transparency and the alignment of private and public enforcement: Evidence from the public disclosure of SEC comment letters," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(1), pages 297-321.
    7. Ewa Sletten & Yonca Ertimur & Jayanthi Sunder & Joseph Weber, 2018. "When and why do IPO firms manage earnings?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 872-906, September.
    8. Liu, Jie & Wu, Chonglin & Zheng, Wanqing & Lin, Gengyan, 2023. "Monitor or manipulator? The effect of institutional ownership on market manipulation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    9. Stephen Brown & Stephen A. Hillegeist, 2007. "How disclosure quality affects the level of information asymmetry," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 443-477, September.
    10. David Aboody & Reuven Lehavy & Brett Trueman, 2010. "Limited attention and the earnings announcement returns of past stock market winners," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 317-344, June.
    11. Liu, Jie & Wu, Chonglin & Yuan, Lin & Liu, Jia, 2022. "Opening price manipulation and its value influences," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    12. Akter, Maimuna & Cumming, Douglas & Ji, Shan, 2023. "Natural disasters and market manipulation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    13. Cumming, Douglas & Johan, Sofia & Peter, Rejo, 2018. "Developments in financial institutions, governance, agency costs, and misconduct," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-14.
    14. Yu, Frank & Yu, Xiaoyun, 2011. "Corporate Lobbying and Fraud Detection," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(6), pages 1865-1891, December.
    15. Lee, Eun Jung & Eom, Kyong Shik & Park, Kyung Suh, 2013. "Microstructure-based manipulation: Strategic behavior and performance of spoofing traders," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 227-252.
    16. Jackson, Howell E. & Roe, Mark J., 2009. "Public and private enforcement of securities laws: Resource-based evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 207-238, August.
    17. Tian, Lihui, 2011. "Regulatory underpricing: Determinants of Chinese extreme IPO returns," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 78-90, January.
    18. Christian Hellwig & Sebastian Kohls & Laura Veldkamp, 2012. "Information Choice Technologies," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(3), pages 35-40, May.
    19. Hainmueller, Jens & Xu, Yiqing, 2013. "ebalance: A Stata Package for Entropy Balancing," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 54(i07).
    20. Zhong, Rong (Irene), 2018. "Transparency and firm innovation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 67-93.
    21. Weili Ge & Dawn Matsumoto & Emily Jing Wang & Jenny Li Zhang & Wayne Thomas, 2020. "The Price of Being Foreign: Stock Market Penalties Associated with Accounting Irregularities for U.S.‐Listed Foreign Firms," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 1073-1106, June.
    22. Chen, Yong & Kelly, Bryan & Wu, Wei, 2020. "Sophisticated investors and market efficiency: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(2), pages 316-341.
    23. Li, Shan & Brockman, Paul & Zurbruegg, Ralf, 2015. "Cross-listing, firm-specific information, and corporate governance: Evidence from Chinese A-shares and H-shares," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 347-362.
    24. repec:cup:jfinqa:v:46:y:2011:i:06:p:1865-1891_00 is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Titman, Sheridan & Wei, Chishen & Zhao, Bin, 2022. "Corporate actions and the manipulation of retail investors in China: An analysis of stock splits," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(3), pages 762-787.
    26. Comerton-Forde, Carole & Putnins, Talis J., 2011. "Measuring closing price manipulation," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 135-158, April.
    27. Park, Seongkyu “Gilbert” & Suen, Wing & Wan, Kam-Ming, 2022. "Call auction design and closing price manipulation: Evidence from the Hong Kong stock exchange," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    28. Lawrence Choo & Todd R. Kaplan & Ro’i Zultan, 2022. "Manipulation and (Mis)trust in Prediction Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(9), pages 6716-6732, September.
    29. Samuel M. Hartzmark, 2015. "The Worst, the Best, Ignoring All the Rest: The Rank Effect and Trading Behavior," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 28(4), pages 1024-1059.
    30. Kemme, David M. & McInish, Thomas H. & Zhang, Jiang, 2022. "Market fairness and efficiency: Evidence from the Tokyo Stock Exchange," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    31. Hirshleifer, David & Teoh, Siew Hong, 2003. "Limited attention, information disclosure, and financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1-3), pages 337-386, December.
    32. Mark Lang & Karl V. Lins & Mark Maffett, 2012. "Transparency, Liquidity, and Valuation: International Evidence on When Transparency Matters Most," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 50(3), pages 729-774, June.
    33. Blau, Benjamin M. & DeLisle, Jared R. & Price, S. McKay, 2015. "Do sophisticated investors interpret earnings conference call tone differently than investors at large? Evidence from short sales," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 203-219.
    34. Alexander Dyck & Adair Morse & Luigi Zingales, 2010. "Who Blows the Whistle on Corporate Fraud?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(6), pages 2213-2253, December.
    35. Cumming, Douglas & Johan, Sofia & Li, Dan, 2011. "Exchange trading rules and stock market liquidity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(3), pages 651-671, March.
    36. Liu, Bibo & Wang, Huijun & Yu, Jianfeng & Zhao, Shen, 2020. "Time-varying demand for lottery: Speculation ahead of earnings announcements," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(3), pages 789-817.
    37. Cumming, Douglas & Dannhauser, Robert & Johan, Sofia, 2015. "Financial market misconduct and agency conflicts: A synthesis and future directions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 150-168.
    38. Chen, Donghua & Guan, Yuyan & Zhang, Tianyu & Zhao, Gang, 2017. "Political connection of financial intermediaries: Evidence from China's IPO market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 15-31.
    39. Rajesh K. Aggarwal & Guojun Wu, 2006. "Stock Market Manipulations," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 79(4), pages 1915-1954, July.
    40. Ho, Kung-Cheng & Yang, Lu & Luo, Sijia, 2022. "Information disclosure ratings and continuing overreaction: Evidence from the Chinese capital market," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 638-656.
    41. Filip, Andrei & Huang, Zhongwei & Lui, Daphne, 2020. "Cross-listing and corporate malfeasance: Evidence from P-chip firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    42. Comerton-Forde, Carole & Rydge, James, 2006. "The influence of call auction algorithm rules on market efficiency," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 199-222, May.
    43. Cumming, Douglas & Ji, Shan & Peter, Rejo & Tarsalewska, Monika, 2020. "Market manipulation and innovation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    44. Carole Comerton-Forde & Tālis J. Putniņš, 2014. "Stock Price Manipulation: Prevalence and Determinants," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 18(1), pages 23-66.
    45. Qian, Yiming & Ritter, Jay R. & Shao, Xinjian, 2024. "Initial Public Offerings Chinese Style," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 59(1), pages 1-38, February.
    46. Chen, Long & Zhao, Xinlei, 2006. "On the relation between the market-to-book ratio, growth opportunity, and leverage ratio," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 253-266, December.
    47. Haifeng You & Xiao-jun Zhang, 2009. "Financial reporting complexity and investor underreaction to 10-K information," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 559-586, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wei, Mingye & Zhang, Min & Wei, Lu & Chen, Meiqi, 2025. "IPOhelper: Mining features in registration statements for listing prediction of technological innovation companies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Jie & Zhang, Jingru & Chen, Zhenshan, 2025. "The effect of stock market manipulation on investor behavioral bias," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    2. Cumming, Douglas & Dannhauser, Robert & Johan, Sofia, 2015. "Financial market misconduct and agency conflicts: A synthesis and future directions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 150-168.
    3. Zhang, Jiang, 2025. "International information flow and market quality," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Liu, Jie & Wu, Chonglin & Yuan, Lin & Liu, Jia, 2022. "Opening price manipulation and its value influences," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    5. Cumming, Douglas & Ji, Shan & Peter, Rejo & Tarsalewska, Monika, 2020. "Market manipulation and innovation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    6. Aghanya, Daniel & Agarwal, Vineet & Poshakwale, Sunil, 2020. "Market in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), stock price informativeness and liquidity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    7. Banerjee, Rajabrata & Gupta, Kartick & Krishnamurti, Chandrasekhar, 2022. "Does corrupt practice increase the implied cost of equity?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Christos Alexakis & Vasileios Pappas & Emmanouil Skarmeas, 2021. "Market abuse under different close price determination mechanisms: A European case," Post-Print hal-03182927, HAL.
    9. Akter, Maimuna & Cumming, Douglas & Ji, Shan, 2023. "Natural disasters and market manipulation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    10. Aitken, Michael & Cumming, Douglas & Zhan, Feng, 2015. "Exchange trading rules, surveillance and suspected insider trading," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 311-330.
    11. Yiping Lin & David Michayluk & Mi Zou, 2023. "Does Random Auction Ending Curb Stock Price Manipulation?," Quarterly Journal of Finance (QJF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(04), pages 1-33, December.
    12. Aitken, Michael & Cumming, Douglas & Zhan, Feng, 2015. "High frequency trading and end-of-day price dislocation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 330-349.
    13. Liu, Jie & Wu, Chonglin & Zheng, Wanqing & Lin, Gengyan, 2023. "Monitor or manipulator? The effect of institutional ownership on market manipulation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    14. Michael Aitken & Frederick Harris & Shan Ji, 2015. "A Worldwide Examination of Exchange Market Quality: Greater Integrity Increases Market Efficiency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 147-170, November.
    15. Tsung-Yu Hsieh, 2015. "Information disclosure and price manipulation during the pre-closing session: evidence from an order-driven market," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(43), pages 4670-4684, September.
    16. Chen, Chuan & Jia, Yanrong & Martin, Xiumin & Silveira, Bernardo, 2025. "Assessing the objective function of the SEC against financial misconduct: A structural approach," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(1).
    17. Dan Amiram & Zahn Bozanic & James D. Cox & Quentin Dupont & Jonathan M. Karpoff & Richard Sloan, 2018. "Financial reporting fraud and other forms of misconduct: a multidisciplinary review of the literature," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 732-783, June.
    18. Wu, Yanling & Tian, Gary Gang, 2021. "Public relations expenditure, media tone, and regulatory decisions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    19. Mingsheng Li & Desheng Liu & Jing Zhang & Luxiu Zhang, 2021. "Volatile market condition, institutional constraints, and IPO anomaly: evidence from the Chinese market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(1), pages 1239-1275, March.
    20. Azevedo, Alcino & Guney, Yilmaz & Leng, Jingsi, 2018. "Initial public offerings in China: Underpricing, statistics and developing literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 387-398.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:93:y:2025:i:c:s0929119925000653. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jcorpfin .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.