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Available-for-sale is available for hoarding: When nonfinancial firms hold financial assets

Author

Listed:
  • Ni, Xiaoran
  • Peng, Yuchao
  • Shen, Ji
  • Vigne, Samuel A.
  • Wang, Nanxuan

Abstract

This paper empirically examines how listed non-financial firms use the “call option” feature of one of the most important financial assets, available-for-sale securities, as earnings manipulation tools owing to bad-news-hoarding motives. In 2007, China set its first accounting standards for financial instruments, which classify financial assets based on the highly subjective “managerial holding intention” criterion. We find that holding available-for-sale securities is positively associated with the likelihood of stock price crashes in Chinese listed firms. The main effect is more pronounced under lax external regulation and lower information transparency. It is further accentuated when CEOs have lower educational backgrounds, weaker competence in managing core business activities, or face greater performance pressures. Our findings indicate that, in typical emerging markets, fair value accounting may have unintended consequences, inducing non-financial firms to employ financial assets as tools to hoard bad news.

Suggested Citation

  • Ni, Xiaoran & Peng, Yuchao & Shen, Ji & Vigne, Samuel A. & Wang, Nanxuan, 2025. "Available-for-sale is available for hoarding: When nonfinancial firms hold financial assets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:171:y:2025:i:c:s0378426624002620
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2024.107348
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Available-for-sale securities; Bad news hoarding; Stock price crash risk; Earnings manipulation; Fair value accounting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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