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Information asymmetry, price discovery, and the Chinese B-share discount puzzle

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  • Doukas, John A.
  • Wang, Liu

Abstract

This paper addresses the information asymmetry between Chinese local A-share and foreign B-share markets and its impact on the B-share discount puzzle, contingent upon Chinese stock market liberalization reforms in 2001 and 2002. In contrast with the widespread notion that domestic investors are better informed than foreign investors, this study shows that foreign investors actually possess more value-relevant, firm-specific information in emerging markets, where information transparency and investor protection rights are relatively weak. As such, the observed B-share discount is not compensation for the informational disadvantage of foreign investors but, rather, the result of a downward price correction (toward the fundamental values) once more firm-specific information is capitalized by sophisticated foreign investors in the B-share market. The price correction effect is significant even after controlling for several alternative explanations. Further investigation suggests a mitigated degree of information asymmetry and B-share discount upon market liberalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Doukas, John A. & Wang, Liu, 2013. "Information asymmetry, price discovery, and the Chinese B-share discount puzzle," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1116-1135.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:21:y:2013:i:1:p:1116-1135
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2012.08.004
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    2. Ma, Huanyu & Hao, Dapeng, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty, financial development, and financial constraints: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 368-386.
    3. Doukas, John A. & Zhang, Rongyao, 2020. "Corporate managerial ability, earnings smoothing, and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Alhaj-Yaseen, Yaseen S. & Yau, Siu-Kong, 2018. "Herding tendency among investors with heterogeneous information: Evidence from China’s equity markets," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 47, pages 60-75.
    5. Bai, Ye & Chow, Darien Yan Pang, 2017. "Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect: An analysis of Chinese partial stock market liberalization impact on the local and foreign markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 182-203.
    6. Mao Liang Li & Chin Man Chui & Chang Qing Li, 2014. "Dividend, liquidity and firm valuation: evidence from China AB share markets," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(9), pages 587-603, May.
    7. Alhaj-Yaseen, Yaseen S. & Barkoulas, John T. & Ouandlous, Arav, 2020. "Liberalization and asymmetric information flow dynamics in the Chinese equity markets," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    8. Chen, Xing & Wu, Chongfeng, 2022. "Retail investor attention and information asymmetry: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    9. Benson, Karen & Faff, Robert & Smith, Tom, 2015. "Injecting liquidity into liquidity research," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PB), pages 533-540.
    10. Oi-Ping Chong & A.N. Bany-Ariffin & Annuar Md Nassir & Junaina Muhammad, 2019. "An Empirical Study of Herding Behaviour in China’s A-Share and B-Share Markets: Evidence of Bidirectional Herding Activities," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 27(2), pages 37-57.
    11. Sha, Yezhou & Zhang, Ping & Wang, Yiru & Xu, Yifan, 2022. "Capital market opening and green innovation——Evidence from Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information asymmetry; B-share discount; Price synchronicity; Market liberalization; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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