Disclosure and liquidity management: Evidence from regulation fair disclosure

We examine the effect of the firm’s information environment on its liquidity policy by exploiting a natural experiment involving Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD). We find, on average, Regulation FD has a negative impact on firm cash holdings. We also directly evaluate changes in firm disclosure policy and find the negative Regulation FD-cash holdings relation is stronger for firms that increased public disclosure and holds largely for firms that faced lower proprietary costs of public disclosure. Furthermore, we find this negative relation is more pronounced for firms with limited access to the credit market. We capture the medium-term effect of Regulation FD two years before and two years after the implementation. Overall, our results suggest that the change in the amount of information disclosed in response to Regulation FD, an externality effect, affects information asymmetry between firms and outside investors and thus cash holdings.     

Effect of corporate disclosure and press media on market liquidity: Evidence from Japan

News on corporate information can enhance clarity or add to confusion for market participants, especially investors. We explore how two diverse types of information dissemination —corporate disclosure and media coverage—influence stock market liquidity by mediating information asymmetries. We conclude that the two information inflows have notable and distinct impacts on liquidity. Our chief finding suggests that information from corporate disclosures induces a wider bid-ask spread, consistent with increased information asymmetries among investors. In contrast, we find that press media coverage—both good and bad news—improves liquidity. This indicates that mass media is a critical channel that provides investors with news to mitigate information uncertainty. Further, this media effect is partly driven by original journalism coverage and assistance for investors' information assimilation. Finally, in the case of stocks in which retail investors' participation is greater, the liquidity-improving effect of mass media is more prominent.     

The effect of increased disclosure on cost of capital: Evidence from China

This study examined the relationship between disclosure and the cost of capital. Prior studies empirically testing this relationship provided mixed findings, and also raised several concerns, such as the endogeneity of disclosure, the information disclosure environment, and the sample size. This study investigated this relationship based on data from the Chinese capital market where a unique institutional arrangement makes the disclosure exogenous. This unique characteristic, in conjunction with a less stringent information environment and a big sample size, helped address these concerns. Our findings confirmed the negative relationship between disclosure and cost of capital.     

Pricing of liquidity risks: Evidence from multiple liquidity measures

We investigate the pricing implication of liquidity risks in the liquidity-adjusted capital asset pricing model of Acharya and Pedersen (2005), using multiple liquidity measures and their principal component. While we find that the empirical results are sensitive to the liquidity measure used in the test, we find strong evidence of pricing of liquidity risks when we estimate liquidity risks based on the first principal component across eight measures of liquidity, both in the cross-sectional and factor-model regressions. Our finding implies that the systematic component measured by each liquidity proxy is correlated across measures and the shocks to the systematic and common component of liquidity are an undiversifiable source of risk.     

The mandatory disclosure of trades and market liquidity

Financial market regulations require various 'insiders' to disclosetheir trades after the trades are made. We show that such mandatorydisclosure rules can increase insiders' expected trading profits.This is because disclosure leads to profitable trading opportunitiesfor insiders even if they possess no private information onthe asset's value. We also show that insiders will generallynot voluntarily disclose their trades, so for disclosure tobe forthcoming, it must be mandatory. Key to the analysis isthat the market cannot observe whether an insider is tradingon private information regarding asset value of is trading forpersonal portfolio reasons.     

The effect of intermediary coverage on disclosure: Evidence from a randomized field experiment

Intermediaries play a significant role in capital markets by reducing disclosure processing costs to market participants. Yet, due to selection and other empirical challenges, the extent and mechanisms through which intermediaries influence firm disclosure are largely unknown. To address these challenges, I conduct a field experiment that randomizes coverage of a mandatory disclosure by two key intermediaries—non-governmental organizations and the media. I show that this coverage causes noncompliant firms to publish the disclosure and firms with low-quality disclosures to improve their existing disclosures. Surprisingly, new disclosures from previously noncompliant firms are on average low quality. Survey evidence and cross-sectional tests suggest the main effect may be driven by firms perceiving pressure from the regulator, whose processing costs may have been reduced. My results yield causal estimates of the effect of intermediary coverage on disclosure and shed light on the nature of the stakeholders that subsequently exert costs on firms.     

The issuance of callable bonds under information asymmetry

We reconsider the role of asymmetric information in motivating the issuance of callable bonds. The previous literature has emphasized a possibility that a call feature serves as a signal of issuer quality. We demonstrate that asymmetric information can motivate use of a call even when this action does not signal quality in equilibrium. We construct a matched sample of callable and non-callable bonds that permits us to control for non-informational effects on the call issuance decision. Empirical evidence from speculative grade bond markets is consistent with the hypotheses that asymmetric information motivates use of the call feature, but there is no evidence that inclusion of the call functions as a signal to the market.     

The effect of mandatory CSR disclosure on firm profitability and social externalities: Evidence from China

We examine how mandatory disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) impacts firm performance and social externalities. Our analysis exploits China's 2008 mandate requiring firms to disclose CSR activities, using a difference-in-differences design. Although the mandate does not require firms to spend on CSR, we find that mandatory CSR reporting firms experience a decrease in profitability subsequent to the mandate. In addition, the cities most impacted by the disclosure mandate experience a decrease in their industrial wastewater and SO₂ emission levels. These findings suggest that mandatory CSR disclosure alters firm behavior and generates positive externalities at the expense of shareholders.     

The impact of bank FinTech on liquidity creation: Evidence from China

This paper examines whether and how bank FinTech affects liquidity creation. Using panel data from Chinese commercial banks over the period 2008–2019 and bank-level FinTech indices constructed by a textual analysis method, we find robust evidence that banks with greater FinTech development create more liquidity for the public. This effect operates through deposit inflow, risk management, and cost efficiency channels. Furthermore, we find that the positive effect of bank FinTech on liquidity creation is more pronounced for banks with non-state ownership, unlisted status, and less liquidity creation.     

The value of liquidity: Evidence from the derivatives market

This paper documents the systematic overpricing of warrants relative to options. Models are developed in order to explain the cross-sectional variation in the relative pricing of these securities. Results indicate that relative pricing differences (RELDIFF) are related to various proxies of liquidity including days-to-maturity, relative trading volume and the mandated presence of market makers in the options market. The identity of warrant-issuers is also found to be significant in explaining relative pricing, possibly reflecting disparate levels of credit risk or it may be a manifestation of the different characteristics relating to the underlying shares upon which the warrants are issued. The paper also documents the impact that the change from floor trading to electronic trading had on the price formation process in the Australian Options Market.     

The real effects of disclosure regulation: Evidence from mandatory CFO compensation disclosure

The 2006 SEC rule, by changing the definition of Named Executive Officers, mandates CFO compensation disclosure. Using this setting and a difference-in-differences research design, we study the real effects of CFO compensation disclosure regulation on CFO job performance. We hypothesize that the disclosure of CFO compensation information, by facilitating shareholder monitoring of the board in providing appropriate incentives to CFOs, leads to better CFO job performance in providing high-quality financial reports. The analyses support our prediction: the treatment firms, which start disclosing CFO compensation information under the 2006 rule, compared to the control firms, which already disclose CFO compensation before 2006, experience an improvement in CFO performance, as exhibited in decreases in accounting misstatements and unexplained audit fees. The results are more pronounced for firms with concentrated ownership, smaller compensation committees, and CFOs subject to weaker monitoring by audit committees. Overall, we provide evidence of a real effect resulting from mandatory CFO compensation disclosure.     

The hedging effect of green bonds on carbon market risk

This paper explores effective hedging instruments for carbon market risk. Examining the relationship between the carbon futures returns and the returns of four major market indices, i.e., the VIX index, the commodity index, the energy index and the green bond index, we find that the connectedness between the carbon futures returns and the green bond index returns is the highest and this connectedness is extremely pronounced during the market's volatile period. Further, we develop and evaluate hedging strategies based on three dynamic hedge ratio models (DCC-APGARCH, DCC-T-GARCH, and DCC-GJR-GARCH models) and the constant hedge ratio model (OLS model). Empirical results show that among the four market indices the green bond index is the best hedge for carbon futures and performs well even in the crisis period. The paper also provides evidence that the dynamic hedge ratio models are superior to the OLS model in the volatile period as more sophisticated models can capture the dynamic correlation and volatility spillover between the carbon futures and market index returns.     

Quantify the quantitative easing: Impact on bonds and corporate debt issuance

This paper studies the impact of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Corporate Sector Purchase Programme (CSPP) announcement on prices, liquidity, and debt issuance in the European corporate bond market using a data set on bond transactions from Euroclear. I find that the quantitative easing (QE) programme increased prices and liquidity of bonds eligible to be purchased substantially. Bond yields dropped on average by 30 basis points (bps) (8%) after the CSPP announcement. Tri-party repo turnover rose by 8.15 million USD (29%), and bilateral turnover went up by 7.05 million USD (72%). Bid-ask spreads also showed significant liquidity improvement in eligible bonds. QE was successful in boosting corporate debt issuance. Firms issued 2.19 billion EUR (25%) more in QE-eligible debt after the CSPP announcement, compared to other types of debt. Surprisingly, corporates used the attracted funds mostly to increase dividends. These effects were more pronounced for longer-maturity, lower-rated bonds, and for more credit-constrained, lower-rated firms.     

Efficiency improvement from restricting the liquidity of nominal bonds

In a monetary search model with nominal bonds, agents face matching/taste shocks but they cannot insure, borrow or trade against such shocks. A government imposes a legal restriction that prohibits bonds from being used to buy a subset of goods. I show that this legal restriction can increase the society's welfare. In contrast to the literature, this efficiency role persists in the steady state and even when the households cannot trade assets after receiving the shocks. Moreover, it can exist when the Friedman rule is available and when the restriction is only obeyed by government agents.     

State ownership and stock liquidity: Evidence from privatization

We provide unique firm-level evidence of the relation between state ownership and stock liquidity. Using a broad sample of newly privatized firms (NPFs) from 53 countries over the period 1994–2014, our study identifies a non-monotonic association between state ownership and stock liquidity. The inverse U-shaped relation is consistent with trade-offs between costs and benefits of state ownership and suggests an optimal level of government shareholdings that maximizes stock liquidity of NPFs. We further identify that the inflection point from the cost/benefit trade-off is contingent upon characteristics of the nation's institutional environment.     

The impact of narrative disclosure readability on bond ratings and the cost of debt

Prior research on the determinants of credit ratings has focused on rating agencies’ use of quantitative accounting information, but the there is scant evidence on the impact of textual attributes. This study examines the impact of financial disclosure narrative on bond market outcomes. We find that less readable financial disclosures are associated with less favorable ratings, greater bond rating agency disagreement, and a higher cost of debt. We improve causal identification by exploiting the 1998 Plain English Mandate, which required a subset of firms to exogenously improve the readability of their filings. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that the firms required to improve the readability of their filings experience more favorable ratings, lower bond rating disagreement, and lower cost of debt. Collectively, our evidence suggests that textual financial disclosure attributes appear to not only influence bond market intermediaries’ opinions but also firms’ cost of debt.     

The influence of the introduction of accounting disclosure regulation on mandatory disclosure compliance: Evidence from Jordan

This paper examines the influence of accounting disclosure regulation, governance reforms and ownership changes, resulting from privatisation, on mandatory disclosure compliance of a sample of 80 non-financial, listed Jordanian companies for the years 1996 and 2004. Employing two checklists based on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) extant in the years 1996 and 2004, we find that disclosure compliance with the IFRS is significantly higher in 2004 than that in 1996. Our multiple regression results indicate that disclosure regulation reforms produced the most significant influence on mandatory disclosure compliance. Further, governance reforms through the mandate of audit committees emerged as a significant determinant of compliance with mandatory disclosure requirements.     

Risk management committees and readability of risk management disclosure

This paper examines whether the presence of risk management committees is associated with the readability of risk management disclosure. Specifically, we consider the presence and the effectiveness of risk management committees. We measure the readability of risk management disclosure using six different readability indices, namely: Bog index; Flesch Reading Ease score; Coleman–Liau index; Flesch–Kincaid Grade level; Simple Measure of Gobbledygook; and Automated Reading index. We find that the presence and the effectiveness of risk management committees are associated with the higher readability of risk management disclosure. We adopt various methods, including an instrumental variable approach, the entropy balancing method and the dynamic generalised method of moments, to address endogeneity concerns. Taken together, our results highlight the important role of the risk management committee in communicating risk management information.     

Mandatory information disclosure and innovation: Evidence from the disclosure of operational information

We use a quasi-natural experiment wherein the Shanghai Stock Exchange requires listed companies in certain industries to disclose operational information and a staggered difference-in-differences model to examine the impact of mandatory information disclosure on corporate innovation. We find that companies subject to mandatory operational information disclosure show significantly increased innovation. This effect is pronounced for companies classified as non-state-owned enterprises, facing severe financing constraints and a high degree of shareholder tunneling behavior and in competitive and high-tech industries. Although mandatory operational information disclosure reduces their competitive advantage, companies appear to compensate by increasing innovation. Our study highlights the positive impact of mandatory operational information disclosure, indicating that it contributes to the high-quality development of both capital markets and companies.     

The impact of short-selling and margin-buying on liquidity: Evidence from the Chinese stock market

We propose a framework based on limit order book to analyze the impact of short-selling and margin-buying on liquidity. We show that when short-sellers are perceived as informed, adverse selection may lead to uninformed traders withdrawing their limit orders. Given that the Chinese stock market has strong information asymmetry and a high proportion of uninformed traders, we predict that the pilot program launched in March 2010, which lifts restrictions on short-selling and margin-buying for a designated list of stocks, may have a negative impact on liquidity. We perform difference-in-differences tests and show evidence that allowing for short-selling and margin-buying indeed has a significantly negative impact on liquidity for stocks on the designated list. In particular, the negative impact on liquidity is more pronounced for stocks with high information asymmetry. Nevertheless, when short-selling volume dries up due to regulation changes in August 2015, i.e., the “T+1” trading rule on short-selling, we show that consistent with model predictions, lifting restrictions on short-selling and margin-buying has a positive effect on liquidity.