B-share Markets Research Articles

Are Chinese B-shares dead? An analysis of price limits on AB-shares on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges

Firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges can simultaneously issue two types of shares: A and B-shares, subject to the same price limits. After July 2003, both Chinese citizens and Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFIIs) were able to trade both A and B-shares in China. Following this regulatory change, some media posts predict that B-share markets will cease to exist in the future. However, are B-shares really dead? Are there no differences at all between these two markets today? In this paper, we will try to answer this question by analysing these two markets with the perspective of price limit efficacy. The rationale behind price limits is to provide investors with a cooling-off period to counter noise trading and alleviate market panic. By applying a truncated-GARCH model that explicitly incorporates the truncation in the distribution of returns that is induced by price limits, we investigate whether price limits have the same effects on price behaviour and volatility on different types of share. In general, A and B-shares enjoy a quite similar pattern in regards to volatility spillover. However, B-shares tend to have more upper price reversal and lower price continuation. This suggests price limits work more efficiently in the B-share market.

The Influence of the Economic Variables on the Chinese B-Share Markets

This paper analyzed how economic variables affect the Chinese B-share market. For this purpose, we investigated the monthly data of major economic variables (consumer price index, imports and exports volume, money supply, real estate index and retail sales volume) and B-share price index of Shanghai and Shenzhen Exchange of China from 2009 to 2019 by employing the multivariate VAR-GARCH-BEKK model. We measured the return spillover effect between Chinese major economic variables and B-share market index from the estimation results of VAR conditional mean equation, and volatility spillover effect between the economic variables and B-share index from the estimation results of GARCH-BEKK conditional variance equation. From these results, we investigated whether there is any difference between the Shanghai and Shenzhen Exchange markets. The main findings are as follows. First, the return spillover effect does not exist in both markets except the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Second, there is the volatility spillover effect between economic variables and Shenzhen B-share market, implying that the volatility spillover effect is more important than the return spillover effect in the Chinese B-share market. Third, compared with Shanghai, the change of the Shenzhen stock market is more affected by the change of economic variables. These findings have some important policy implications. First, investors in Chinese stock market need to make good use of the information inherent in China’s economic changes to increase returns and reduce investment risks. Second, the investors should pay close attention to the overall trends of the Chinese economy and the global economy, not just to the trends of the Chinese market.

Herding behaviour of Chinese A- and B-share markets

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence of herding phenomenon, spill-over effects related to herding and whether herding is driven by fundamentals or non-fundamentals for various sub-periods and sub-samples. Design/methodology/approach The cross-sectional absolute deviation model is applied to China’s A- and B-share markets in combination with fundamental information. Findings Herding is prevalent on both A- and B-share markets. In detail, investors on A-share market herd for small and growth stock portfolios irrespective of market states while they only herd for large or value stocks in down market, therefore leading the whole herding behaviour to be pronounced in down market. Comparatively, on B-share market, herding is robust for various investment styles (small or large, value or growth) or market situations. Additionally, spill-over effects related to herding do not exist no matter from A-shares to B-shares or from B-shares to A-shares. Moreover, investors on B-share markets tend to herd as the response to non-fundamental information more frequently during financial crisis. Originality/value Investors on A- and B-share markets tend to herd as the response to non-fundamental information more frequently during financial crisis. Analysing the herding behaviours could be helpful in controlling the financial risk.

Trader differences in Shanghai’s A-share and B-share markets: Effects on interaction with the Shanghai housing market

This study analyzes the relationship between the second-hand house price index of Shanghai and Shanghai stock market indices distinguishing between the A-share market, in which Chinese investors predominate, and the B-share market, in which foreign investors predominate. Monthly data for the period April 2003 to June 2018 are analyzed using VAR and GARCH methods. The A-share market shows little covariance with the housing market, whereas the B-share market generally shows a negative covariance, indicating the potential for B-shares to provide risk diversification for Shanghai house owners. Using VAR estimation, a positive shock to the housing market is found to have a negative effect on the A-share market contrary to a positive such credit-price effect between stocks and house prices established for developed countries, perhaps due to a crowding-out of rising house prices on share purchase. Using GARCH estimation, however, the negative credit-price effect is discerned to apply only for negative house price shocks, suggesting falling housing prices allow more funds to be diverted to the share market. While the A-share market shows causality in only one direction from house prices to share prices, causality between the B-share and housing markets is two-way. This is consistent with the less restricted B-share market affording better information transmission.

Does the Convergence of IFRS Enhance Value Relevance? Evidence from A- and B-Share Markets in China

Using a sample of Chinese firms that issue A-shares based on Chinese accounting standards (CAS) and firms that issue B-shares based on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this study investigated whether the convergence of CAS with the IFRS has enhanced value relevance from 2003 to 2013. The B-share firms were used to control the impact of the non-accounting standards. I first estimated the price-levels models and the lagged-price-deflated return models for the relation between market values and accounting numbers and then compared the informative contents for the pre-convergence period (2003-2006) to those for the post-convergence period (2010–2013). I then examined value relevance measured by explanatory powers and pricing errors over time. The study documents significant increase in the contents of A-shares’ financial information after the convergence. While the A-share’s value relevance measured by explanatory powers is increasing over time, the value relevance measured by pricing errors is decreasing. These findings suggest that even though the CAS-based accounting numbers (earnings and book values) and the reconciliation of accounting numbers from CAS to IFRS have incremental information contents, their value relevances in relation to the A-shares proxy for pricing errors are decreasing after the convergence with the same trends in the IFRS-based accounting numbers.

Factors Influencing Equity Return Correlations between China’s Pairs of A- and B-Share Markets: Effect of QFII’s Implementation

This paper was intended to examine factors influencing the correlations between A- and B-shares of individual firms, and explore the effects of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor’s (QFII) implementation on correlations. The empirical results show that interest rate differential, relative turnover rate, relative return volatility, and market sentiment had impacts on correlation both before and after the QFII’s implementation. After its implementation, correlations became more sensitive to premium, relative turnover rate and market sentiment. Furthermore, the estimated constant term for overall market correlation became more negative (raw values from -0.3413 to -0.8815), indicating an increasing correlation between A- and B-shares’ returns. The policy implications are that much benefit of diversification into emerging markets such as paired A-and B-shares can be accomplished, together with taking several influential factors into account.

Impacts of the Stock Market Liberalization in China: Evidence from the Foreign Institutional Investor Scheme

The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) scheme announcement on the Chinese A- and B-share markets, using an event study method with the GARCH (Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity) process. The results indicate that the announcement of the QFII system did cause a rapid drop in stock prices and trading volumes for both the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets. The abnormal returns in the Shanghai A-share market are influenced the most by the QFII scheme and both stock markets experienced a sustained decline in the trading volumes. The results of cross-sectional variation further reveal that the number of board members, the shareholding ratio of block shareholders, the market capitalization of firm equity, and SOEs are all positively related to the abnormal trading activities. It is worth pointing out that stock listings in the overall Shanghai stock market and the both A-share markets exhibit a negative relationship with the abnormal trading behavior, implying that A-share stocks might be overvalued after the opening up of the B-share market.

Information asymmetry, price discovery, and the Chinese B-share discount puzzle

This paper addresses the information asymmetry between Chinese local A-share and foreign B-share markets and its impact on the B-share discount puzzle, contingent upon Chinese stock market liberalization reforms in 2001 and 2002. In contrast with the widespread notion that domestic investors are better informed than foreign investors, this study shows that foreign investors actually possess more value-relevant, firm-specific information in emerging markets, where information transparency and investor protection rights are relatively weak. As such, the observed B-share discount is not compensation for the informational disadvantage of foreign investors but, rather, the result of a downward price correction (toward the fundamental values) once more firm-specific information is capitalized by sophisticated foreign investors in the B-share market. The price correction effect is significant even after controlling for several alternative explanations. Further investigation suggests a mitigated degree of information asymmetry and B-share discount upon market liberalization.

Are Chinese Stock Market Cycles Duration Independent?

This paper studies the duration properties of the Chinese stock market cycle. We find evidence for duration dependence in both A-share and B-share markets for whole cycles. The results reject the random-walk hypotheses for both markets. For half cycles, evidence of duration dependence for expansions in the Shanghai A-share market is found. For the Shenzhen B-share market, there is little evidence of duration dependence for half cycles. Although the B-share market is less liquid as compared to the A-share market, the results of this study suggest that the B-share market is more efficient than the A-share market. An important implication is that the quality of market participants plays an important role in the duration property of the Chinese stock market.

Information Asymmetry, Price Discovery, and the Chinese B-Share Discount Puzzle

This paper addresses the information asymmetry between Chinese local A-share and foreign B-share markets and its impact on the B-share discount puzzle, contingent upon Chinese stock market liberalization reforms in 2001 and 2002. In contrast with the widespread notion that domestic investors are better informed than foreign investors, this study shows that foreign investors actually possess more value-relevant, firm-specific information in emerging markets, where information transparency and investor protection rights are relatively weak. As such, the observed B-share discount is not compensation for the informational disadvantage of foreign investors but, rather, the result of a downward price correction (toward the fundamental values) once more firm-specific information is capitalized by sophisticated foreign investors in the B-share market. The price correction effect is significant even after controlling for several alternative explanations. Further investigation suggests a mitigated degree of information asymmetry and B-share discount upon market liberalization.

Panel cointegration of Chinese A and B shares

We study information flows in China's stock markets. By using panel data methods we test for a unit root in the price premium of domestic investors’ A shares over foreign investors’ B shares, as well as cointegration between the A- and B-share prices on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. We find that the A-share premia are nonstationary, and that the A- and B-share prices are not cointegrated up till January 2001. After February 2001, when domestic investors were allowed to trade B shares, the A-share premia become stationary and the A- and B-share prices cointegrated. One interesting result from the panel data analysis is that most firms’ A and B shares are cointegrated, but not all firms. Cointegration is more likely for firms with a small A-share premium, low ratio of nontradeable shares, high growth rate and large B-share market capitalization relative to the A-share market capitalization. Our findings suggest that the relaxation of the investment restrictions decreased the segmentation between the A- and B-share markets in China.

Stock Return Seasonalities and Investor Structure: Evidence from China's B-Share Markets

This paper investigates whether seasonalities in daily stock returns are related to the trading behavior of individual and institutional investors. The change in the investor structure of B-share markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen after the abolition of ownership restrictions in 2001 provides a unique testing environ- ment. We show that day-of-the-week e ects are attenuated after the market entrance of Chinese individual investors who had previously not been allowed to trade in B-shares. Our empirical results suggest that institutional rather than individual investors are a main driving force behind such anomalies. In addi- tion, we nd evidence of reduced index return autocorrelation and US spillover e ects in the post-liberalization period.

Stock Return Seasonalities and Investor Structure: Evidence From China's B-Share Market

This paper investigates whether seasonalities in daily stock returns are related to the trading behavior of individual and institutional investors. The change in the investor structure of B-share markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen after the abolition of ownership restrictions in 2001 provides a unique testing environment. We show that day-of-the-week eff ects are attenuated after the market entrance of Chinese individual investors who had previously not been allowed to trade in B-shares. Our empirical results suggest that institutional rather than individual investors are a main driving force behind such anomalies. In addition, we hand evidence of reduced index return auto-correlation and US spillover effects in the post-liberalization period.

Further evidence on the efficiency of the Chinese stock markets: A note

This paper examines the efficiency of the Chinese A-share and B-share markets following the deregulation of the B-share market which widened ownership to include domestic investors. Applying parametric and non-parametric variance ratio tests to the daily data of 370 shares over 1996–2005, the paper finds that A-shares are more efficient than B-shares, although the efficiency of both markets has improved following the regulatory change. Overall, the results suggest that the Chinese stock markets are characterised by information asymmetry, although the timely access to high quality information that domestic investors enjoy has improved the efficiency of the B-share market.

Empirical analysis of dynamic correlations of stock returns: evidence from Chinese A-share and B-share markets

This paper examines the dynamic correlation structure between A-share and B-share stock returns based on three different measures of correlation coefficients. Testing the models by employing daily stock-return data for the period from 1996 through 2003, we reach the following empirical conclusions. First, the correlation coefficients between A-share and B-share stock returns are time varying. Second, the dynamic path of the correlation coefficients indicates that the correlation coefficients are significantly correlated with the trend factor. Third, there is a substantial spillover effect from the Asian crisis to Chinese stock-return dynamic correlations. Fourth, the evidence suggests that the time-varying correlations are significantly associated with excessive trading activity as measured by excessive trading volumes and high–low price differentials. Fifth, the correlation between A-share and B-share markets has increased since the relaxation of the restriction on B-share market investments by domestic investors.

Integrating A- and B-Share Markets in China: The Effects of Regulatory Policy Changes on Market Efficiency

We investigate the effectiveness of two recent regulatory policy changes on market efficiency in the Chinese A- and B-share markets. Overall, the opening of the B-share market to domestic Chinese investors and the limited opening of the A-share market to foreign investors increase market efficiency. The opening of the B-share market significantly reduces the price differential between A- and B-shares. Furthermore, there is no longer feedback in returns between the two markets in recent years. Our results provide evidence that there is no detrimental effect to market efficiency by integrating Chinese investors to international markets and foreign investors to the Chinese stock markets.

Herding behavior in Chinese stock markets: An examination of A and B shares

This study examines herding behavior in dual-listed Chinese A-share and B-share stocks. We find evidence of herding within both the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets that are dominated by domestic individual investors, and also within both B-share markets, in which foreign institutional investors are the main participants. Herding occurs in both rising and falling market conditions. Herding behavior by A-share investors in the Shanghai market is more pronounced under conditions of rising markets, high trading volume, and high volatility, while no asymmetry is apparent in the B-share market.

Further Evidence on the Efficiency of the Chinese Stock Markets

This paper examines the relative efficiency of the Chinese A- and B-share markets following the deregulation of the B-share market which widened ownership to include domestic investors. Applying both parametric and non-parametric variance ratio tests to the daily data of 304 A-shares and 66 B-shares over the period 1 January 1996 to 30 April 2005, the paper finds that A-shares are characterised by a greater level of efficiency than are B-shares, although the efficiency of both markets has improved following the regulatory change. Overall, the results suggest that the Chinese stock markets are characterised by information asymmetry, although the timely access to high quality information that domestic investors in the A-share market enjoy, has improved the efficiency with which information is incorporated into the prices of B-shares.

Value relevance of international accounting standards harmonization: Evidence from A- and B-share markets in China

Applying both the price-levels model and the lagged-price-deflated returns model, we investigated the incremental value relevance of the reconciliation of accounts from the Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) to the International Accounting Standards (IAS) by those Chinese listed companies that have simultaneously issued A-shares and B-shares. In addition, we examined the usefulness of accounting numbers (earnings and book values) and their value relevance to the A- and B-share markets in China. The study finds that earnings and book values of owners’ equity determined under CAS are more relevant accounting information for the purpose of determining the prices of A- and B-shares. The CAS-based earnings changes were reflected in stock returns in the B-share market, while the CAS-based earnings were closely associated with stock returns in the A-share market. However, the study found that the reconciliation of earnings and book values from CAS to IAS basis is partially value-relevant, mainly to stock prices in the B-share market, while the earnings reconciliation is generally not value-added to stock returns in either the A- or the B-share market. The study results suggest that accounting numbers based on domestic accounting standards, in contrast to IAS, are more value-relevant in the Chinese stock market at present.

Market segmentation and information values of earnings announcements: Some empirical evidence from an event study on the Chinese stock market

This paper investigates the trading activities of two distinct classes of shareholders, namely, the Chinese domestic investors and the foreign investors in the segmented Chinese A- and B-share markets, respectively. We conduct an event study on the annual earnings announcements based on two different accounting standards: International accounting standards (IAS) and PRC generally accepted accounting principles (PRC GAAP). The earnings announcements based on IAS and PRC GAAP are value relevant. The investors in the B-share market react to both the IAS and PRC GAAP earnings announcements, while the investors in the A-share market pay more attention to the PRC GAAP earnings reports. In the B-share market, positive abnormal returns are associated with positive earnings surprise and negative abnormal returns go with negative earnings surprise. We find preevent abnormal trading volumes without significant price changes for the A shares, which may be due to existing information in the A-share market prior to earnings announcements. The postevent abnormal trading volumes last for a longer period in the A-share market than in the B-share market.