Palani Rajan Kadapakkam

The impact of cash flows and firm size on investment: The international evidence

Abstract This paper examines the degree to which cash flow availability influences firm investment in six OECD countries. In particular, we are interested in the extent to which the reliance on internal funds is affected by firm size, since there is general agreement that smaller firms have less access to external capital markets and, thus, should be more affected by the availability of internal funds. Earlier work has concluded that the documented positive relationship between cash flow and investment is evidence of the existence of financial constraints. We first examine all firms, regardless of size, in each country, and we find that the amount of corporate investment is affected by internal resources in all six countries; that is, internal financing affects firm investment. We then repeat the analysis segmenting the sample using three measures of firm size. Contrary to our a priori expectations, we find that the cash flow-investment sensitivity is generally highest in the large firm size group and smallest in the small firm size group. We deduce that the explanations for these findings are grounded in managerial agency considerations, and in the greater flexibility enjoyed by large firms in timing their investments. Thus, we conclude that the degree of sensitivity of a firms investments to its cash flows cannot be interpreted as an accurate measure of its access to capital markets (as do Kaplan, S., Zingales, L., 1997. The Quarterly Journal of Economics 169–215), since small firms are known to have less access to external markets.

Reduction of Constraints on Arbitrage Trading and Market Efficiency: An Examination of Ex-Day Returns in Hong Kong after Introduction of Electronic Settlement

Previous research documents positive ex-dividend day returns in excess of one percent in the unique institutional setting of Hong Kong, where neither dividends nor capital gains are taxed. Short-term arbitrage trades around the ex-day were hampered by physical settlement procedures. After the recent switch to an electronic settlement system, which enables such trades, ex-day abnormal returns have declined to an insignificant 0.17 percent. This drop is more pronounced for high-yield stocks, which are more likely to attract dividend capture trading. The evidence points to the crucial role of short-term traders in ensuring the pricing efficiency of financial markets. Copyright The American Finance Association 2000.

The Role of Private and Public Debt in Corporate Capital Structures

This paper examines the extent of reliance on private debt from 1980 through 1988 for a set of firms selected from Fortune 500 firms in 1980. The average firm in this set obtained more than half of its debt from private sources throughout the period, with a slight decline in the mid-1980s. Cross-sectional analysis reveals that a firms reliance on private markets for debt financing is negatively related to the amount of outstanding long-term debt. Use of private debt is not linked to standard proxies for the potential for leverage-related costs for this group of firms.

International Price Discovery for Emerging Market Stocks: Evidence from Indian GDRs

Given the rapid increase of the number of emerging market stocks being dually listed abroad, it is important to understand the role of the foreign markets in the price discovery process. We examine this issue by studying the role of the London Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) market for Indian stocks. We find that the London and the Mumbai prices are cointegrated despite arbitrage restrictions imposed by Indian government regulations. Each market contributes almost equally to price discovery, a result in contrast to the small contribution of offshore markets to price discovery of stocks based in developed economies. The GDR markets contribution to price discovery increases with the foreign ownership of the firm and GDR issue size. We also find evidence of significant volatility spillovers from the London market to the Indian market. The overall results suggest that offshore trading in emerging market stocks play a beneficial role by aiding domestic price discovery.

An Application of Variance-Ratio Test of Five Asian Stock Markets

In the present study the variance-ratio test developed by Lo and MacKinlay (1988, and 1989) is applied to monthly stock index returns of five Asian markets that are in different stages of development. The markets examined are Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Although previous studies have examined the efficiency issues of the markets in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan, the empirical evidence is often contradictory. The current study looks at the efficiency issues of these markets over a sufficiently long period of time (November 1986 — December 1995) using more appropriate methodology and type of data. Also, this study is the first to provide new evidence on an emerging market in Asia — Bangladesh. Results reported in this study indicate that the index return series of all the sample markets except Sri Lanka do follow a random walk.

The Value of Shelf Registration for New Debt Issues

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 415 (shelf registration) allows eligible firms to register securities that they intend to issue in the next two years. Once the registration is declared effective, firms can enter the market instantaneously. Ineligible issuers, however, are required to notify the SEC at least forty-eight hours before entry. Supporters of the shelf rule contend that the rule provides valuable flexibility in timing issues. The authors examine this contention by comparing the market-timing performance of shelf and nonshelf debt issues. The results indicate that the shelf rule does provide valuable market-timing flexibility. Copyright 1989 by the University of Chicago.

Return Linkages Between Dual Listings Under Arbitrage Restrictions: A Study of Indian Stocks and Their London Global Depositary Receipts

We examine the linkages between returns on Indian global depositary receipts (GDRs) in London and their underlying stocks in India. GDR returns are sensitive to returns observed earlier in India. This sensitivity is more pronounced for more liquid GDRs. Although arbitrage is not feasible for GDRs that sell at a premium, these GDRs are, nevertheless, sensitive to Indian returns. The sensitivity is greater for GDRs selling at a discount, where costly arbitrage is feasible. GDR returns have a significant but small effect on subsequent returns of the underlying stocks, with more liquid GDRs having a slightly greater impact. Copyright 2003 by the Eastern Finance Association.

Anatomy of a Government Intervention in Index Stocks - Price Pressure or Information Effects?

In a massive intervention designed to deter speculators, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) bought Hang Seng index stocks in August 1998. These stocks experienced a 24% abnormal return during the intervention period. The abnormal returns are not reversed over the next eight weeks, refuting the hypothesis that returns are due to temporary liquidity effects. Cross-sectional analysis of daily abnormal returns during the intervention period reveals that these returns are related to overall intervention activity rather than stock-specific intervention. This evidence is consistent with information effects rather than price pressure effects.

Stock reaction to dividend savings of convertible preferred calls: Free cash flow or price pressure effects?

Abstract Calls of in-the-money convertible preferred stock typically induce dividend savings for the firm, since preferred dividends exceed common stock dividends. Prior research finds that these savings are negatively related to stock returns at call announcement and argues that the market expects managers to abuse the increased free cash flow. This paper finds that dividend savings are closely related to call size, suggesting other explanations. Larger calls experience a more negative announcement reaction. Consistent with temporary liquidity effects, there is a price reversal during the conversion period, which is greater for larger calls.

Tests of Random Walk for Latin American Stock Markets: Additional Evidence

ABSTRACT This study examines the presence of random walk in stock returns in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela using variance-ratio tests as developed by Lo and MacKinlay (1988, 1989) and modified by Chow and Denning (1993). Daily, weekly and monthly index return series over a four- to eight-year sample period is used in the present study. Local currency rather than dollar denominated returns are used to avoid distortions caused by exchange rate behavior. The results indicate that while the return series for Argentina and Costa Rica follow random walk in a consistent manner, the return series for Peru does not, irrespective of the frequency of the data used. The results for the other sample markets vary as different frequency of data is used to estimate the variance-ratios. RESUMEN. Este estudio examina la presencia del trayecto aleatorio o random walk en el retorno de las inversiones bursátiles realizadas en Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Perú y Venezuela, usando la prueba de variación proporcional desarrollada por Lo y MacKinlay (1988, 1989), modificada por Chow y Denning (1993). En este estudio se usa una serie de índices de retorno diarios, semanales y mensuales a lo largo de un período muestra de cuatro a ocho años. También se utiliza como denominar la moneda local en vez del dólar, para evitar cualquier distorsión que pueda llegar a provocar el comportamiento de la tasa cambiaria. Los resultados indican que, mientras que la serie de retornos obtenidos en Argentina y Costa Rica siguen la norma del trayecto aleatorio, Perú no lo hace, independientemente de la frecuencia de los datos usados. Los resultados para otros mercados varían a medida que se utiliza una frecuencia de datos diferente para estimar la variación proporcional. RESUMO. Este estudo examina a existência de um passeio fortuito no lucro das ações na Argentina, no Brasil, no Chile, na Colômbia, na Costa Rica, no México, no Peru e na Venezuela, utilizando os testes de índice de variância, desenvolvidos por Lo e MacKinlay (1988, 1989) e modificados por Chow e Denning (1993). Séries diárias, semanais e mensais de índices de retorno foram utilizadas neste trabalho, durante um período de amostragem de quatro a oito anos. Foi utilizada a moeda local, em vez do dólar, como parâmetro de retorno, para evitar distorções causadas pelo comportamento das taxas de câmbio. Os resultados indicam que, enquanto as séries de retorno para a Argentina e para a Costa Rica seguem o passeio fortuito de forma consistente, para o Peru isto não procede, independente da freqüência dos dados utilizados. Os resultados dos outros mercados utilizados como amostra, variam, conforme a utilização da freqüência diversa de dados, para avaliar os índices de variância.