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Informative content of insider purchases: evidence from the financial crisis

Ozkan, Aydin; Trzeciakiewicz, Agnieszka

Authors

Aydin Ozkan

Agnieszka Trzeciakiewicz



Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of insider trading on subsequent stock returns in the UK, with a specific focus on the impact of the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 on the relation between CEO and CFO stock purchases and returns. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical analysis uses 10,230 purchases executed in 679 UK firms by 1,477 directors during the period from 2000 to 2010. Subsequent market-adjusted stock returns are regressed on a set of firm-specific accounting, market and corporate governance variables as well as the characteristics of CEOs and CFOs. Additionally, the analysis distinguishes between the opportunistic and routine trades. Findings – The findings reveal that the position of the trading director and the nature of their trades are important in determining the impact on returns of insider trades. In particular, CEO purchases are on the whole more informative than CFO purchases and opportunistic purchases. The trades in the post-crisis period have a greater impact on subsequent stock returns. Research limitations/implications – The empirical analysis is limited to the trades made by two executives. Future research should consider inside trades by all directors and distinguish between executive and non-executive directors. Also, a behavioral measure should be developed to test if the financial crisis affected the trading behavior of directors and whether directors use insider trading strategically to signal information to the market. Practical implications – The impact of directors’ dealings on stock returns is not homogeneous. Financial analysts and investors should pay more attention to different types of trades and the identity of trading director. Originality/value – This paper, to the authors’ knowledge, provides the first attempt that combines in the same framework the identity and personal attributes of trading executive directors, firm-level corporate governance features, the nature of purchase transactions and the trading period characteristics. Furthermore the empirical analysis is carried out during a period that also covers the recent global financial crisis period and its immediate aftermath.

Citation

Ozkan, A., & Trzeciakiewicz, A. (2014). Informative content of insider purchases: evidence from the financial crisis. Review of Behavioural Finance, 6(1), 26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/RBF-01-2014-0008

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 2, 2014
Deposit Date Apr 22, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Review of behavioural finance
Print ISSN 1940-5979
Electronic ISSN 1940-5987
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Issue 1
Pages 26-45
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/RBF-01-2014-0008
Keywords Financial crisis, Insider trading, Stock returns, CEO, CFO, Opportunistic and routine purchases
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/436844
Publisher URL http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/RBF-01-2014-0008
Additional Information Authors' accepted manuscript of an article which has been published in: Review of behavioural finance, 2014, v.6, issue 1.

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