Detecting Information from Directors' Trades: Signal Definition and Variable Size Effects

There have been three empirical studies examining the share price reaction following trades by directors of UK companies (King and Poell, 1988; Pope, Morris and Peel, 1990; and Gregory, Matatko, Tonks and Pukiss, 1994). All three of these UK studies used different definitions of 'buy' and 'sell' signals resulting from the transactions of directors and employ different controls to detect the presence of any 'size effects'. We investigate whether the signal definition explains the different conclusions drawn by these earlier studies, and examine whether or not any observed abnormal returns are explicable by the small companies effect. We also investigate trading strategies based on holding a long portfolio of shares purchased or a short portfolio of shares sold by directors held until the end of the study period or until a 'reserving event' (e.g. a sale following a purchase by director[s] is observed).     

An Empirical Analysis of Quoted Depths of NYSE and Amex Stocks

In this study, we find strong intertemporal/cross-sectional correlations between quoted depths and various security characteristics for a sample of stocks listed on the NYSE and Amex. Our empirical results indicate that although specialists are generally unable to discern insider trading as it occurs, they cope with insider trading by posting smaller depths for stocks with a greater tendency of insider trading. Empirical evidence also indicates that specialists/limit order traders quote smaller depths for riskier stocks to limit potential losses to better-informed traders. In addition, we find that specialists/limit order traders quote larger depths for stocks with greater trading volume, larger market capitalization, and higher competition. Overall, our findings suggest that depths are an important means through which specialists and limit order traders deal with the adverse selection problem, order processing problem, and competition.     

Insider Trading in the Hong Kong Stock Market

Many previous studies on insider trading are based ondata in the U.S. capital market and conclude thatinsiders can earn abnormal profits. This paperexamines abnormal price performance associated withinsider trading in the Hong Kong stock market. We findthat abnormal profits associated with insider tradingare all concentrated on small firms. Trading volumedoes matter in determining the magnitude of thoseabnormal profits. Our results show that insiders ofmedium-sized and large firms do not earn abnormalprofits. Finally, it is found that outsiders who mimicthe information of insider trades associated withmedium-sized and large firms cannot earn abnormalprofits.     

浅析单位内幕交易违法的认定与处罚

近年,单位作为主体从事内幕交易的案例呈增加之势。本文结合行政执法与刑事司法实践,结合近年典型单位内幕交易案例,并借鉴海外监管查处经验,着重讨论了单位内幕交易认定的一些疑难法律问题,诸如是否将单位作为违法主体以及是否处罚、如何认定单位知悉与利用内幕信息、如何区分单位内幕交易行为与个人内幕交易行为等问题。     

“Swimming Ducks Forecast the Coming of Spring”—The predictability of aggregate insider trading on future market returns in the Chinese market

This study systematically examines the ability of aggregate insider trading to predict future market returns in the Chinese A-share market. After controlling for the contrarian investment strategy, aggregate executive(large shareholder)trading conducted over the past six months can predict 66%(72.7%) of market returns twelve months in advance. Aggregate insider trading predicts future market returns very accurately and is stronger for insiders who have a greater information advantage(e.g., executives and controlling shareholders).Corporate governance also affects the predictability of insider trading. The predictability of executive trading is weakest in central state-owned companies,probably because the "quasi-official" status of the executives in those companies effectively curbs their incentives to benefit from insider trading.The predictive power of large shareholder trading in private-owned companies is higher than that in state-owned companies, probably due to their stronger profit motivation and higher involvement in business operations. This study complements the literature by examining an emerging market and investigating how the institutional context and corporate governance affect insider trading.     

Do Share Buybacks Provide Price Support? Evidence From Mandatory Non-Trading Periods

Abstract:  Financial regulators, analysts and journalists have expressed concern that open market share repurchases may help support share prices. We test this conjecture by examining repurchasing firms' share price patterns on entering mandatory non-trading periods imposed by the London Stock Exchange. If buybacks provide price support, we would expect to observe price declines when trading bans force firms to suspend their buyback program. Consistent with claims that open market buybacks provide price support, we document average price declines when repurchasing firms enter mandatory non-trading periods. We also find that the magnitude of the price decline varies cross-sectionally with proxies for the price support impact of repurchases in the predicted manner. However, economic and statistical significance levels are moderate and largely confined to non-trading periods preceding interim results announcements, casting doubt on whether trading profits could be earned by exploiting this information.     

我国证券市场内幕交易的法学实证分析——来自31起内幕交易成案的统计分析

内幕交易是证券法学界炙手可热、经久不衰的热门课题,关于内幕交易的各种概念、学说、理论被学术界翻炒得烂熟,解剖个案麻雀的精彩论著也不鲜见,但受制于案例、资料和相关数据的局限,少有学者从实证角度,系统性地研究我国内幕交易成案的总体特征。本文力图在传统证券法学研究途径之外,独辟蹊径,通过运用统计、数量分析等经济学科工具,对证券市场成立以来查处的全部31起内幕交易案件加以实证分析,以期得出我国内幕交易案件的发案特征与规律,为打击和防范内幕交易违法行为,修订内幕交易法制提供数据支持和实证参考。     

规制证券短线交易法律制度的现存问题与对策

起源于美国的上市公司内部人短线交易(short-swing trading)收益归入权制度,是证券内幕交易法律规制制度的一个重要组成部分,其立法目的在于通过对上市公司内部人的短线交易收益予以归入这一威慑手段,建立内幕交易的事先防范和吓阻机制,以维持投资者对资本市场公正性和公平性的信赖,保障资本市场的健康、有序发展。本文试从投资者权益保护的视角,在对我国现行的相关法律制度、司法和监管实践进行研究分析的基础上,借鉴美国、日本、韩国、台湾地区等境外成熟市场的成功经验,提出了完善我国短线交易法律规制制度的若干建议与对策。     

内幕交易监管与监管困境研究综述

各国对内幕交易的监管基本采取立法的形式，许多学者都探讨了实施内幕交易监管的有效性以及监管效率问题。本文对相关文献进行了梳理，发现从内幕交易监管有效性的纵向比较分析，内幕交易监管并不能达到预期的效果；从横向比较分析，内幕交易监管越严格，越有利于降低内幕交易程度。总体而言，内幕交易监管是必要与相对有效的。因交易者策略与量价甄别指标的主观性而产生了监管困境，降低了监管效率。但是监管总体上可以带给市场的效益高于成本，那么内幕交易监管的实施与不断完善是非常有必要的。     

内幕交易罪的司法困境及出路研究

近年来内幕交易案件频发,无论是\"杭萧钢构案\",还是\"上海祖龙内幕交易案\"都在司法认定方面引起了理论和实务界的较大争议。这充分表明,在认定内幕交易罪的司法实践中仍然存在很多待解的难题。只有在对这些司法难题进行深入剖析的基础上,重构内幕信息的认定标准、改善内幕交易行为的取证路径、强化内幕交易的执法力度、完善机制设计,才能破解司法难题,维护证券市场的公平公正,保障证券法律法规得以遵守和执行。     

对金融衍生品市场内幕交易的一些新思考——澳大利亚现行的反内幕交易法及其带给我们的若干启示

本文着眼于澳大利亚在治理金融衍生品市场内幕交易中积累的丰富经验，针对一个崭新的前瞻性课题，即金融衍生品市场的内幕交易问题展开研究。作者认为，由于内幕交易与信息非对称性之间存在的内在冲突，实际上反内幕交易法规很难有效地阻止金融衍生品的内幕交易行为，过于复杂的反内幕交易法规会对市场产生一些负面影响，而放松内幕交易监管这一新思维将对市场的良性发展更为有益，应该让市场来决定内幕交易行为的“存亡”。但目前最为现实、温和的选择仍然是修改现行反内幕交易法，以维护市场的公平性和有效性。最后，笔者对如何缓解中国目前内幕交易猖獗的现状提出建议。     

对金融衍生品市场内幕交易的一些新思考--澳大利亚现行的反内幕交易法及其带给我们的若干启示

本文着眼于澳大利亚在治理金融衍生品市场内幕交易中积累的丰富经验,针对一个崭新的前瞻性课题,即金融衍生品市场的内幕交易问题展开研究。作者认为,由于内幕交易与信息非对称性之间存在的内在冲突,实际上反内幕交易法规很难有效地阻止金融衍生品的内幕交易行为,过于复杂的反内幕交易法规会对市场产生一些负面影响,而放松内幕交易监管这一新思维将对市场的良性发展更为有益,应该让市场来决定内幕交易行为的“存亡”。但目前最为现实、温和的选择仍然是修改现行反内幕交易法,以维护市场的公平性和有效性。最后,笔者对如何缓解中国目前内幕交易猖獗的现状提出建议。