IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/coacre/v9y1992i1p252-282.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bond ratings, bond yields and financial information

Author

Listed:
  • DAVID A. ZIEBART
  • SARA A. REITER

Abstract

. The role of accounting information in investment decision making and capital markets has been investigated by exploring fundamental connections between accounting numbers and market†based phenomena of interest. Studies of bond rating predictions have described how bond raters make their judgments as a function of accounting and other data. This study expands our knowledge of these fundamental connections by investigating whether bond ratings have a direct impact on bond yields and how accounting information impacts the bond yields—directly, or indirectly through the bond ratings. A simultaneous equation system is constructed using firm†specific financial information, bond ratings by two major rating agencies, and initial offering yields. The sample used in this study consists of 189 new issue industrial bonds rated by both Standard & Poor's and Moody's that were issued from 1981 through 1985. Tests of alternative structural model configurations provide evidence regarding the interrelations between bond ratings, financial information, and bond yields. The improvements in the statistical methodology lead to a better understanding and assessment of the relative roles of bond ratings and financial information in setting bond prices. The use of simultaneous equation modeling allows the interrelations among yields, ratings, and financial information to be assessed and allows the direct and indirect effect of financial information on yields to be estimated. This results in the ability to conclude that financial information affects bond ratings, that bond ratings directly affect bond yields, that financial information also directly affects bond yields, and that financial information indirectly affects bond yields through its effect on ratings. The role of accounting information in setting bond market prices is clarified using this approach. Résumé. On a étudié le rôle de l'information comptable dans la prise de décisions d'investissement et sur les marchés financiers en explorant les liens fondamentaux entre les données comptables et les phénomènes d'intérêt fondés sur le marché. Les études portant sur les prédictions relatives à la notation des obligations ont décrit de quelle façon les services d'information financière jugeaient de la valeur des obligations à partir de données, comptables et autres. Les auteurs de la présente étude élargissent la connaissance de ces liens fondamentaux en analysant la possibilité que la notation des obligations ait une incidence directe sur leur rendement et la façon dont l'information comptable agit sur le rendement des obligations, que ce soit directement, ou indirectement par l'intermédiaire de leur notation. Les auteurs constuisent un système d'équations simultanées à l'aide de l'information financière propre à l'entreprise, des cotes accordées aux obligations par deux services majeurs d'informations financières et du rendement des émissions initiales. l'échantillon qui a servi à l'étude compte 189 nouvelles émissions d'obligations dans le secteur industriel, cotées à la fois par Standard & Poor's et Moody's, qui ont été émises entre 1981 et 1985. Les tests appliqués aux configurations de rechange du modèle structurel établissent clairement les relations entre la notation des obligations, l'information financière et le rendement des obligations. Les progrès de la méthodologie statistique ont mené à une meilleure compréhension et une meilleure évaluation des rôles relatifs de la notation des obligations et de l'information financière dans l'établissement du prix des obligations. La modélisation d'équations simultanées permet, d'une part, l'évaluation des relations entre rendement, notation et information financière et, d'autre part, l'estimation des conséquences directes et indirectes de l'information financière sur le rendement qui doit être estimé, ce qui amène à conclure que l'information financière a une incidence sur la notation des obligations, que la notation des obligations exerce une influence directe sur le rendement des obligations, que l'information financière touche également de manière directe le rendement des obligations et qu'elle a une incidence indirecte sur le rendement des obligations, par le truchement de son incidence sur la notation. Le rôle de l'information comptable dans l'établissement de la valeur marchande des obligations est éclairci grâce à cette méthode.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Ziebart & Sara A. Reiter, 1992. "Bond ratings, bond yields and financial information," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 9(1), pages 252-282, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:9:y:1992:i:1:p:252-282
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1992.tb00879.x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1911-3846.1992.tb00879.x
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/j.1911-3846.1992.tb00879.x?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lawrence Fisher, 1959. "Determinants of Risk Premiums on Corporate Bonds," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 67, pages 217-217.
    2. Jaffee, Dwight M., 1975. "Cyclical variations in the risk structure of interest rates," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 309-325, July.
    3. James W. Wansley & Terrence M. Clauretie, 1985. "The Impact Of Creditwatch Placement On Equity Returns And Bond Prices," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 8(1), pages 31-42, March.
    4. Joseph P. Ogden, 1987. "Determinants Of The Ratings And Yields On Corporate Bonds: Tests Of The Contingent Claims Model," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 10(4), pages 329-340, December.
    5. Holthausen, Robert W. & Leftwich, Richard W., 1986. "The effect of bond rating changes on common stock prices," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 57-89, September.
    6. Grier, Paul & Katz, Steven, 1976. "The Differential Effects of Bond Rating Changes among Industrial and Public Utility Bonds by Maturity," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 49(2), pages 226-239, April.
    7. Pinches, George E & Singleton, J Clay, 1978. "The Adjustment of Stock Prices to Bond Rating Changes," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 33(1), pages 29-44, March.
    8. Merton, Robert C, 1974. "On the Pricing of Corporate Debt: The Risk Structure of Interest Rates," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 29(2), pages 449-470, May.
    9. Cook, Timothy Q & Hendershott, Patric H, 1978. "The Impact of Taxes, Risk and Relative Security Supplies on Interest Rate Differentials," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 33(4), pages 1173-1186, September.
    10. Griffin, Paul A & Sanvicente, Antonio Z, 1982. "Common Stock Returns and Rating Changes: A Methodological Comparison," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 37(1), pages 103-119, March.
    11. Thompson, G Rodney & Vaz, Peter, 1990. "Dual Bond Ratings: A Test of the Certification Function of Rating Agencies," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 25(3), pages 457-471, August.
    12. Laber, Gene, 1987. "Effects of the Bell system breakup on the cost of debt," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 185-197, August.
    13. Kaplan, Robert S & Urwitz, Gabriel, 1979. "Statistical Models of Bond Ratings: A Methodological Inquiry," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 52(2), pages 231-261, April.
    14. Bengt Muthén & Anders Christoffersson, 1981. "Simultaneous factor analysis of dichotomous variables in several groups," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 46(4), pages 407-419, December.
    15. Thatcher, Janet Solverson, 1985. "The Choice of Call Provision Terms: Evidence of the Existence of Agency Costs of Debt," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 40(2), pages 549-561, June.
    16. Bengt Muthén, 1984. "A general structural equation model with dichotomous, ordered categorical, and continuous latent variable indicators," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 49(1), pages 115-132, March.
    17. Zaima, Janis K & McCarthy, Joseph E, 1988. "The Impact of Bond Rating Changes on Common Stocks and Bonds: Tests of the Wealth Redistribution Hypothesis," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 23(4), pages 483-498, November.
    18. Liu, Pu & Moore, William T, 1987. "The Impact of Split Bond Ratings on Risk Premia," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 22(1), pages 71-85, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Schaetzle, Dominik, 2011. "Ratingagenturen in der neoklassischen Finanzierungstheorie: Eine Auswertung empirischer Studien zum Informationsgehalt von Ratings," Arbeitspapiere 110, University of Münster, Institute for Cooperatives.
    2. María Concepción Verona Martel & José Juan Déniz Mayor, 2011. "Las agencias de rating y la crisis fi nanciera de 2008: ¿El fi n de un poder sin control?," Revista Criterio Libre, Universidad Libre - Sede Principal, June.
    3. Bremer, Marc & Pettway, Richard H., 2002. "Information and the market's perceptions of Japanese bank risk: Regulation, environment, and disclosure," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 119-139, April.
    4. Kaveri Krishnan & Sankarshan Basu & Ashok Thampy, 2020. "Has the Global Financial Crisis Changed the Market Response to Credit Ratings? Evidence from an Emerging Market," Journal of Emerging Market Finance, Institute for Financial Management and Research, vol. 19(1), pages 7-32, April.
    5. Norden, Lars & Weber, Martin, 2004. "Informational efficiency of credit default swap and stock markets: The impact of credit rating announcements," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 2813-2843, November.
    6. May, Anthony D., 2010. "The impact of bond rating changes on corporate bond prices: New evidence from the over-the-counter market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2822-2836, November.
    7. Chamroeun Sok, 2012. "Corporate Credit Rating Announcements: Information Content of Rating Announcements Models: Evidence from the Australian Financial Markets," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 4-2012.
    8. Chan, Pak To & Edwards, Vic & Walter, Terry, 2009. "The information content of Australian credit ratings: A comparison between subscription and non-subscription-based credit rating agencies," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 22-44, March.
    9. Ferri, Giovanni & Lacitignola, Punziana & Lee, Jeong Yeon, 2013. "Foreign ownership and the credibility of national rating agencies: Evidence from Korea," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 762-776.
    10. Patrycja Chodnicka -Jaworska, 2019. "Impact of credit rating agencies on European Banking stock prices: Is the recognition of credit rating agency important?," Faculty of Management Working Paper Series 42019, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management.
    11. Rubina Shaheen & Attiya Yasmin Javid, 2014. "Effect of Credit Rating on Firm Performance and Stock Return; Evidence form KSE Listed Firms," PIDE-Working Papers 2014:104, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    12. Abdelkader Boudriga & Dorsaf Azouz Ghachem, 2016. "Does US stock market react differently to rating announcements during crisis period? The case of the 2008 worldwide financial crisis," American Journal of Finance and Accounting, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(3/4), pages 193-214.
    13. Dorsaf Azouz Ghachem & Abdelkader Boudriga & Chokri Mamoghli, 2011. "Does The American Stock Market React Differently to Rating Announcements During A Crisis Period? The Case of the 2008 Worldwide Financial Crisis," Working Papers 601, Economic Research Forum, revised 07 Jan 2011.
    14. Tony R. Wingler & James M. Watts, 1982. "Electric Utility Bond Rating Changes: Methodological Issues And Evidence," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 5(3), pages 221-235, September.
    15. repec:uts:finphd:36 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Antonio, DI Cesare, 2006. "Do Market‐based Indicators Anticipate Rating Agencies? Evidence for International Banks," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 35(1), pages 121-150, February.
    17. Matthew C. Cedergren & Changling Chen & Kai Chen, 2019. "The implication of unrecognized asset value on the relation between market valuation and debt valuation adjustment," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 426-455, June.
    18. Gaurav Dawar & Shivangi Bhatia & Jai Parkash Bindal, 2023. "Does Credit Rating Revisions Affect the Price of Common Stock: A Study of Indian Capital Market," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 11(2), pages 190-209, May.
    19. Bissoondoyal-Bheenick, Emawtee, 2004. "Rating timing differences between the two leading agencies: Standard and Poor's and Moody's," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 361-378, September.
    20. Fathi Nakai & Tarek Chebbi, 2023. "The informational content of sovereign credit rating: another look," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(5), pages 353-373, September.
    21. Beaver, William H. & Shakespeare, Catherine & Soliman, Mark T., 2006. "Differential properties in the ratings of certified versus non-certified bond-rating agencies," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 303-334, December.

    More about this item

    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:wly:coacre:v:9:y:1992:i:1:p:252-282. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1911-3846 .

    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.