José Yagüe

Relative performance of trading halts and price limits: Evidence from the Spanish Stock Exchange

We study the relative performance of trading halts and price limits using data from the Spanish Stock Exchange where both mechanisms have coexisted. According to our evidence, trading activity increases after either mechanism is triggered. Volatility stays the same after trading halts but increases after price limit hits. Our evidence also shows that the bid-ask spread is narrower after trading halts but wider after price limit hits. Information is efficiently reflected in stock prices once trading resumes after trading halts, but there is evidence of market overreaction for upper price limits. Our overall result may have important policy implications for financial markets in the world.

Does gender diversity on corporate boards reduce information asymmetry in equity markets

We examine the relation between the gender diversity on boards of corporations and the levels of information asymmetry in the stock market. Prior evidence suggests that the presence of women on director boards increases the quantity and quality of public disclosure by firms, and we therefore expect firms with higher gender diversity on their boards to show lower levels of information asymmetry in the market. Using a Spanish sample, proxies for information asymmetry estimated from high-frequency data along with system GMM panel methodology, we find that the gender diversity on boards is negatively associated with the level of information asymmetry in the stock market. Our findings support the changes in the laws that have been introduced in several countries to increase the proportion of female company directors by providing evidence that gender diverse boards have beneficial effects on stock markets.

Audit Opinions and Information Asymmetry in the Stock Market

This paper analyzes the relationship between the content of the audit reports and information asymmetry levels in the stock market for a sample of Spanish firms. By implementing an association study, we document (1) that firms with audit qualifications show higher information asymmetry levels than those with unqualified opinions; (2) firms with non-quantified qualifications show higher informational asymmetry than firms with quantified qualifications; and (3) we find a stronger effect on informational asymmetry level in the case of going concern qualifications. Our findings suggest that audit qualifications reporting more uncertainty on firm accounting statements result in higher adverse selection risk.

The Effects of IFRS on Net Income and Earnings Components: Value Relevance, Persistence and Predictive Value

ABSTRACT We examine whether the switch to IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) has affected the value relevance and persistence of net income. In addition, since IFRS adoption has involved changes in the location of nonrecurring items in the income statement, we also examine whether these changes have influenced the value relevance, persistence, and predictive value of the main income measures. Using a sample of Spanish listed firms, we find an increase in the value relevance of net income and non-significant changes in its persistence after 2005. We also find that nonrecurring items were value relevant in the pre-adoption period and that the operating income is more value relevant after IFRS adoption. This suggests that the significant increase in the value relevance of operating income could be explained by the inclusion in this income measure of former extraordinary and special items. We also observe that the former extraordinary section under SAS (Spanish Accounting Standards) was persistent, whereas the income measure of net profit/loss from discontinued operations under IFRS is neither value relevant nor persistent. We do not find significant changes in the attributes of financial income, but we do observe an increase in the value relevance of other consolidated items and corporation tax after IFRS adoption.

Real Earnings Management and Information Asymmetry in the Equity Market

Abstract The literature suggests that real earnings management (REM) activities can increase adverse selection risk in capital markets. Due to their opacity and the difficulties in understanding their implications, REM strategies may increase the level of information asymmetry among investors. This paper examines the association between earnings management through real activities manipulation and information asymmetry in the equity market. To estimate the level of adverse selection risk we use a comprehensive index of information asymmetry measures proposed by the market microstructure literature. For a sample of Spanish listed firms, we find that firms’ strategies of increasing earnings through REM are associated with higher information asymmetry in those firms that meet last year’s earnings. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that earnings management through real activities manipulation garbles the market, enhances private information production, and exacerbates information asymmetry in the stock market.