Efeito das notícias pré-divulgadas no lucro: uma análise no setor de metalurgia e siderurgia brasileira

Abstract

This study examines the influence over companies of press reports related to them in the period between the end of each reporting quarter and the announcement of the companies’ quarterly earnings. Specifically, the study discusses the surprise effect, if any, that the announcement of companies’ earnings produces on their market prices after checking the news reports in which those companies are cited in the press. The empirical tests, carried out using the panel data method, present evidences that the market did not react, on average, to the announcement of quarterly earnings, suggesting that such reactions, which were significantly positive, had already occurred when the reports about the companies were published before the date of the announcement of their quarterly earnings. This finding is contrary to the one documented by Christensen et al. (2004) in the United States and indicates that the Brazilian market is efficient in its semi-strong form. The unit root tests on the series and the autocorrelation of residuals ensure the robustness of the results obtained.Key words: information content, accounting and capital market, press news.