Pan(dem)ic Reactions in Turkish Stock Market: Evidence from Share Repurchase Transactions

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the impact of share repurchase transactions on stock returns in Turkey as one of the emerging markets severely hit by COVID-19. Event study analyses reveal that market reaction to repurchase activity in the aftermath of the pandemic declaration of March 11, 2020 was significantly positive. Moreover, short-term stock performance of repurchasing firms was far greater than that of their non-repurchasing peers. These results have important policy implications in terms of corporate payout decisions which have recently been challenged by the new coronavirus.