Capital Market Research Articles

The Influence of Earnings Management on the Value Relevance of Accounting Information

This research aims to investigate the influence of earnings management practices on the value relevance of accounting information in the Indonesian business environment. The research method used is qualitative with a library study approach and document content analysis. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews with related parties such as auditors and financial managers, as well as analysis of the contents of documents in the form of financial reports and company meeting notes. The research results show that earnings management practices can reduce the value relevance of accounting information by affecting the quality of information conveyed in financial reports. Practices such as increasing revenue estimates or delaying expense recognition can cloud the picture of a company's true performance, which in turn affects economic decision making. These findings emphasize the importance of transparency and integrity in accounting practices to maintain the value relevance of accounting information for stakeholders. The implication of this research for accounting theory is the need to pay attention to earnings management practices within a broader theoretical framework regarding the integrity of accounting information. From a practical perspective, companies need to increase awareness of the importance of honest accounting practices and comply with applicable standards to minimize unethical earnings management practices. This implication is also relevant for regulators in strengthening regulations related to financial reporting in order to maintain the integrity of the capital market in Indonesia.

Digital Marketing Strategies and Profitability in the Agri-Food Industry: Resource Efficiency and Value Chains

Agriculture is essential to any country’s economy. Agriculture is crucial not only for feeding a country’s population but also for its impact on other businesses. The paradox of agri-food companies generating substantial profits despite seemingly high product prices is explored in this article, focusing on the role of digital marketing within the agri-food industry. Enhanced digital marketing performance leads to efficient advertising campaigns, through reduced advertising costs and increased resource efficiency. To do so, the authors collected web analytical data from five established agri-food firms with the highest market capitalization. Then, linear regression and correlation analyses were used, followed by the utilization of fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) modeling. The analysis revealed that increased traffic through search sources is associated with reduced advertising costs. Additionally, enhanced website engagement contributes to lower advertising expenses, emphasizing the optimization of the user experience. However, it has been discovered that allocating funds for social media advertising eventually results in higher expenses with higher website-abandoning rate. Ultimately, successful management of the balance between product costs and profitability in the agri-food sector lies on the increased use of search sources and greatly reducing the use of social media sources.

The Influence of Financial Literacy, Perception of Capital Capability, Return Expectation and Family Environment on the Intention to Invest in Shares of Students in the Capital Market

One of the most popular financial products among Indonesians, according to a survey by the Financial Services Authority (OJK), is capital market investment. The number of investors in the capital market has increased year by year, yet the growth rate is lowest in the stock sector. This study aims to examine the influence of financial literacy, perceptions of minimal capital, return expectations, and family environment on students' intention to invest in stocks in the capital market, based on the theory of planned behavior. This research employs a quantitative approach. The study was conducted on undergraduate accounting students at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Udayana University, from the year 2017-2023. Data were collected by distributing a questionnaire via Google Forms to accounting students at FEB UNUD. The population in this study was 1.203 people. The sample was selected using probability sampling with proportionate stratified random sampling, resulting in 300 respondents. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistical techniques and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 25.0. The results of this study indicate that financial literacy, perceptions of minimal capital, return expectations, and family environment have a positive effect on students' intention to invest in stocks.

Performance pressure and annual report text manipulation: Evidence from China

AbstractBuilding on attribution theory, this study investigates the antecedents of corporate annual report text manipulation from the perspective of managerial performance pressure. Using a data set comprising 15,076 samples from companies listed on China's Shanghai and Shenzhen A‐share markets between 2009 and 2021, we reveal that as management faces performance pressure, they tend to increase content about external environmental risk and policy uncertainty in annual reports due to actor–observer bias. When incorporating Confucian cultural factors into the research framework, the study found that the strength of Confucian culture mitigates the correlation between the pressure of management performance and annual report manipulation. However, the level of marketization where a corporation is located can undermine the ethical norms upheld by Confucian culture. In additional analysis, we also discovered that the longer the duration of performance pressure, the greater the extent of manipulation within the annual reports initiated by the management. Interestingly, the social performance pressure generated from ESG performance also positively influences annual report textual manipulation, compared to operational performance pressure. This study explores the impact of management performance pressure on information disclosure decisions from the perspective of performance attribution, not only extending the boundaries of attribution theory but also providing guidance for policymakers to enhance the supervision of annual report disclosures and for capital market investors to optimize investment decisions.

Innovation activity of the largest companies in the high-tech sector

Aim. To analyze the specific features of innovation activity of the largest transnational companies of the high-tech sector in order to identify general trends and assess their efficiency.Objectives. To study the expenditures on innovation in Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon; to determine the ratio of expenditures on research and development (R&D) to total revenue and the share of innovation in total expenditures; to examine the market capitalization and the share of private investors in the ownership of shares of these companies; to analyze the share of intangible assets in total assets; to assess the intensity of innovation activity by the number of issued patents; to identify the general characteristics of innovative companies-leaders of the high-tech sectorMethods. This study utilizes financial indicators, statistical data and data on patent activity of Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft Corporation and Amazon.Results. The largest high-tech companies achieve improved innovation performance through a combination of understanding customer needs, active participation of management in the research and development program, and the creation of unique products and services based on new technologies. Financial success depends on successfully utilizing existing intellectual resources, creating long-term customer relationships, and fostering the development of human capital within companies. Companies that focus on customer satisfaction and continuously stimulate employee development demonstrate higher innovation performance and ensure commercial success in the market.Conclusions. The comparative analysis of the indicators of the largest transnational companies in the high-tech sector allows us to assess the efficiency of innovation activity, as well as to identify the key factors contributing to their sustainable development in a highly competitive market.

How do Capital Market Pressures Affect Pay Structures? Evidence Based on Short Selling and Firms’ Internal Pay Gaps

This paper examines the relationship between short selling and internal pay gaps of listed companies, and explores how short selling affects the company's pay structure. To this end, this paper utilizes the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2022, and adopts the staggered-DID method, and finds that short selling significantly increases the internal pay gaps of firms subject to the short selling mechanism, but gaps are instead narrowed in SOEs and technology-intensive firms. The mechanism analysis suggests that short selling widens pay gaps by increasing the demand for highly educated managers and their compensation for job risk. The result of this paper provides a new perspective for understanding the socio-economic effects of capital market policies, as well as a rationale for formulating fair and reasonable pay policies.

The impact of judicial prejudice in bankruptcy on creditors and local financial development

In this research, we explore the implication of judicial prejudice in bankruptcy for creditor interests and local financial market development. Based on prefecture-level data, we find compelling evidence that judicial prejudice leads to capital market frictions. Regions with stronger judicial prejudice have higher borrowing costs. Moreover, judicial prejudice is negatively related to local financial market development. In sum, our research sheds light on the impact of judicial prejudice on financial market development.

A dynamic analysis of capital, corruption, and labor market interactions

The complex relationship between corruption, economic growth, and labor dynamics has long been a challenge for policymakers. This study sheds new light on these dynamic interactions by constructing a novel economic model with saturation effects that integrate employment considerations. Unlike static or purely empirical models, our approach captures the system’s evolution over time, employing a logistic growth function to realistically reflect economic limitations and distinguishing between employed and unemployed labor segments. By incorporating a Holling type II function, the model captures the nonlinear influence of corruption on economic growth, acknowledging diminishing returns at higher corruption levels. Through advanced theoretical analysis, we establish the existence and stability conditions for three distinct long-term equilibria: stagnation, corruption-free growth with full employment, and a coexistent state where corruption persists alongside some economic activity. Our analysis goes beyond merely identifying these equilibria by revealing the specific conditions under which each state prevails, and we solidify these theoretical predictions with comprehensive numerical simulations depicting the system’s behavior under varying conditions. The findings underscore the importance of robust anti-corruption measures and a labor-intensive economic approach, highlighting that fostering growth outpacing resource depletion is crucial for escaping stagnation and achieving sustainable development. Overall, this research advances the field by integrating employment dynamics, a Holling type II function for corruption, and a focus on stability analysis, providing invaluable insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable economic development, combat corruption, and ensure healthy employment conditions.

Role of FinTech Apps in Increasing Investment Decisions: A Study on the Capital Market

The proliferation of FinTech apps has democratized access to financial services, empowering individuals and businesses to take greater control of their finances. These apps have catalyzed financial innovation, disrupted traditional business models, and fostered competition in the financial industry. Moreover, FinTech apps have the potential to drive economic growth, promote financial literacy, and advance financial inclusion on a global scale. FinTech applications have played an important role in the creation of an arena where information is collected, stored, and processed to make the best decisions of investment. This has boosted the investment and increased the activity in capital markets when considered from the investors’ point of view. Capital markets have always been an important place for investors to invest in long-term securities with a maturity of more than one year. Primary as well as secondary markets are part of it. People invest in securities expecting a return in the form of capital gains and/or income. The role of FinTech applications in facilitating various investment decisions has also opened doors to retail investors in capital markets. Traditionally, retail investors have been overlooked because they are perceived not to have enough capital to invest, be too risk-averse, and be too costly to service. Both quantitative and qualitative data have been used. 150 online surveys were used to gather primary data. The outcome from this study showed a major shift in stock market investors towards digital connection due to various reasons. Some cultural and behavioral effects have been found among the investors for the financial transactions.

Private Capital Markets Insights 2024: The Return of Warrants to Mezzanine Debt

Despite the prevailing focus on the public markets, private companies represent approximately half of the world economy, if not more. This is a descriptive article presenting a summary of data and results from the 2024 Private Capital Markets Report, which is the product of the annual private capital markets survey. The annual survey was launched in 2009 and examines the behavior and trends of senior lenders, asset-based lenders, mezzanine funds, private equity groups, venture capital firms, angel investors, privately-held businesses, investment bankers, business brokers, limited partners, and business appraisers. Most of the survey panelists are based in the United States of America, but this is not a requirement. The data set also includes many panelists outside of the U.S. There was a total of 1,143 respondents represented in the 2024 survey. An empirical result of this article is that we test the theory that the recent return of warrants to mezzanine deals is associated with a higher interest rate environment. We find evidence supporting that association. These results may be helpful for academics and practitioners forecasting mezzanine activity and deal terms.

Information asymmetry and investment efficiency: the role of blockholders

PurposeThis study aims to examine the extent to which information asymmetry affects investment efficiency and whether the presence of blockholders moderate this relationship.Design/methodology/approachWe employ the data of firms listed on the Malaysian stock exchange for the period 2010–2018, to compose our sample. Our final sample includes the 100 largest non-financial firms based on market capitalization. Collectively, these 100 companies contribute 84.2% to the total market capitalization (MYR 1,730bn) which is representative of the whole market. The ordinary least squares regressions were used as the main estimation technique. The system generalized method of moments, two-stage least squares and propensity score matching were also used, to address potential endogeneity concerns.FindingsWe document a positively significant association of information asymmetry with investment inefficiency. These results imply that information asymmetry reduces investment efficiency and enhances sub-optimal investments. We also document that blockholders negatively moderate the relationship of information asymmetry with investment inefficiency. Further analyses show that investment inefficiency is higher in low-growth firms than in high-growth firms because of higher information asymmetry.Research limitations/implicationsWe focus on Malaysia, which is a predominantly common-law Anglo-Saxon country. Graff (2008) documented that the investors are treated differently across legal systems and there are differences between the continental European and Anglo-Saxon countries. La Porta et al. (1999) documented that investors tend to have more legal protection in Anglo-Saxon countries. Therefore, our results may not be generalized to countries with different legal systems.Practical implicationsAn important implication of our findings is that stakeholders may encourage the presence of blockholders and give them a voice to weaken the positive relationship between information asymmetry and investment inefficiency.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the contingency literature by investigating the moderating effect of an important governance mechanism, i.e. the presence of blockholders on information asymmetry-investment efficiency nexus. Despite being important, this moderating effect has been largely overlooked in the literature. Our study contributes by providing an understanding of how blockholders can influence investment decisions, offering insights for academics, investors and policymakers focused on improving the efficacy of investment decisions and governance structure.

Unpacking the financial attributes of blue-chip non-fungible tokens (NFTs) against traditional and digital assets

PurposeThis study aims to identify the financial attributes of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as safe havens, hedges or diversifiers against traditional (stock indices, foreign exchange, gold and government bonds) and digital (Bitcoin and Ethereum) assets.Design/methodology/approachThe quantile via moments was utilized, and the data spanned from 20 September 2021 to 31 January 2022. The authors incorporated feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) and difference-generalized method of moments (diff-GMM) as the robustness check.FindingsOverall, NFTs offer strongly safe havens, hedging and diversifier attributes against cryptocurrencies, while weak properties for traditional assets. The specific findings are: (1) Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) serves as a strong hedge for Bitcoin during market rise; (2) Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) serves as a strong safe haven against Bitcoin during market bull; (3) Crypto punk (CP) provides strong safe havens properties for gold during market turmoil while serving as a strong hedge against gold and Bitcoin on average and (4) the three blue-chip NFTs are powered by Ethereum blockchain, thus serving as a diversifier against Ethereum.Practical implicationsBitcoin investors are suggested to include NFTs in their investment portfolio to mitigate the losses when Bitcoin falls. Meanwhile, the inclusion of crypto punk is advised for risk-averse investors who invest in gold. NFTs are powered by the Ethereum blockchain, indicating co-movement among them and thus, serve as diversifiers. Policymakers and regulators are suggested to watch closely over NFTs' great development and restructure the existing policies and thus, stabilization of asset markets can be achieved.Originality/valueThe originality aspects are: (1) focusing on the three blue-chip NFTs (i.e. BAYC, MAYC and CP) that are categorized as the largest NFTs by floor market capitalization; (2) testing the NFT attributes (safe havens, hedges or diversifiers) against traditional and digital assets, a.k.a., cryptocurrencies and (3) panel setting on 14 countries with the highest NFT users.

Detecting Earning Manipulation Using the Beneish M-Score Model: Evidence from Public Listed Companies in Malaysia

This paper aims to examine the association between earning manipulation using the Beneish M-Score Model and share price with market capitalisation as the control variable among public listed companies (PLCs) in Malaysia. The study was performed over a four-year period from 2017 to 2020 using the financial data of 65 PLCs under the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Bursa Malaysia Top 100 Index, including various industries except the financial service industry. The Beneish M-Score Model comprised eight variables or ratios to identify earning manipulations, namely Days Sales in Receivable Index (DSRI), Gross Margin Index (GMI), Asset Quality Index (AQI), Depreciation Index (DEPI), Sales Growth Index (SGI), Sales, General and Administrative Index (SGAI), Total Accruals to Total Assets (TATA), and Leverage Index (LVGI). The market price was measured using the year-end share price. The findings found that there was a weak negative association as well as a statistically insignificant relationship between earning manipulation and share price, which suggests that earning manipulation is influenced by other factors excluding share price. The findings did not support the argument that there was a significant relationship between earning manipulation and share price where companies had been discovered to have engaged in earning manipulation. The study is crucial for the stakeholders that expect companies to achieve the maximum returns and stability in investments and to protect owners’ rights.

Tax Revenue, Capital Market Performance and Foreign Direct Investment in an Emerging Economy

Tax Revenue, Capital Market Performance and Foreign Direct Investment in an Emerging Economy

Investor response to engagement quality review hours

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether mandated disclosure of engagement quality review hours provides new information that affects investors’ decision-making.Design/methodology/approachIn 2014, Korean authorities mandated that audit engagement quality review hours must be disclosed in their audit reports. Using this unique field setting in Korea, this study presents empirical evidence of the policy initiative’s effect on earnings reliability by examining both pre- and post-implementation periods.FindingsFollowing the initial disclosure of engagement quality review hours in 2014, the authors observe that the capital market’s valuation of quarterly earnings surprises, measured by earnings response coefficients (ERCs), was significantly lower for firms with high levels of abnormal engagement quality review hours than for other firms. This paper also finds that the observed association between engagement quality review hours and ERCs in the postregulation period hinges on the probability of earnings management, proxied by discretionary accruals and just meeting or beating analyst earnings forecast.Originality/valueThis paper suggests that the policy mandating disclosure of engagement quality review hours provides original information that the market considers relevant for appraising the reliability of reported earnings.

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) Analysis: Technology Sector Stock Conditions Before and During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic made people more active in saving, such as investing in the capital market. Stocks in the technology sector were excellent stocks because the trading volume increased by up to 7.3 times during the pandemic. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) was a model to see the expected rate of return and aimed to assist investors in making investment decisions. CAPM used beta (β) to measure the sensitivity a stock or portfolio is to market movements. Beta indicates the tendency of an asset's return to react to fluctuations in the overall market. This study aimed to look at differences in technology sector stocks in the period before and during the pandemic using the CAPM method and paired t-test. The research using a purposive sampling method. A quantitative descriptive method was used in this study and used secondary data in the form of financial statements of technology sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Based on the results of the study, seven stocks had an average negative return before the pandemic and positive returns during the pandemic. There was one efficient stock in the pre-pandemic period and six inefficient shares, and seven shares were classified as efficient shares during the pandemic. The results of the paired t-test showed that there was a significant difference between individual returns before and during the pandemic.

Institutional determinants of dividend policy of African listed firms

ABSTRACT This paper examines the institutional determinants shaping the dividend policy of 357 non-financial firms listed across 13 African markets. Utilising panel data estimation techniques, our findings indicate that weaker investor protection, increased financial development, high GDP growth, and greater press freedom are linked to higher dividend payouts, while corruption and property rights protection show no significant effects. Notably, financial market development positively impacts dividend policy, whereas the development of financial institutions does not. Policymakers should prioritise several key areas: strengthening investor protection to encourage diverse value creation and improve governance; enhancing financial market development to increase capital access and market efficiency; supporting press freedom to promote transparency and accountability; and fostering GDP growth to improve firm performance and boost dividend distributions. A balanced approach integrating financial development, press freedom, and economic growth is essential for optimising dividend policies and advancing sustainable economic development in Africa.

Fundamental factors and the level of underpricing

Underpricing has been the subject of substantial research at a global scale and has been thoroughly described in the literature, but it is still unclear what factors influence its level in the Polish capital market, particularly in the context of fundamental factors. Since investors have very limited information of the companies going public, the companies must convey or signal information that can be used for valuing their shares. The aim of the article is to identify the impact of a company’s fundamental factors on the level of underpricing of an initial public offering. The research is based on the sample of 227 companies debuting in the regulated market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange between 2005 and 2022. The empirical analysis and regression results estimation were based on the data coming from prospectuses of the companies going public. To prepare the econometric linear regression model, the stepwise forward variable selection procedure was carried out. The evidence indicates that underpricing is significantly affected by a few financial variables, such as assets, ROA, BVS, and EPS.

Gold characteristics as safe haven and assets diversification for Sharia stocks in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to determine the role of gold as a safe haven, hedge and asset diversification for Shariah stock in conditions of extreme stock market declines. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative approach is used by applying the threshold generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (TGARCH) model to capture bad or good news in the market condition and quantile regression method to obtain the extreme values of stock returns in several market conditions. The data used were the daily closing price of gold and the Jakarta Islamic Index from January 2011 to October 2022. Findings The average conditions show gold does not have a hedge property and only acts as an asset diversification. Second, gold has a substantial, safe haven property in every economic condition. However, the safe-haven property of gold seemed to weaken during the most extreme stock market decline. Thus, although gold appears as a safe haven and asset diversification, it remains a risky investment and only provides a minor role in the face of the extreme stock market period. Practical implications This research provides a discourse and literature for Islamic investors and investor managers to choose the right investment instrument in various economic conditions where gold has a function as diversification and safe haven in their asset portfolio under any other asset portfolio conditions which is also in line with modern portfolio theory. For policymakers, the study can be used as material for consideration in making policies related to the accessibility of gold as an investment instrument. Originality/value This study presents the originality by using the price of Antam gold as a proxy for gold investment during the latest research year data and focusing on case studies in Islamic capital market in Indonesia. Moreover, this research provides quantile regression that sharply discussion in various economics condition.

Impact of tumultuous economic periods on investments made by joint-stock companies included in the WIG-ESG index

The aim of the article is to assess the role of ESG assumptions in dealing with complex crises that are both economic and financial in nature. The research problem is excessive fluctuations in the quotations of the WIG-ESG index, which includes listed companies characterized by adherence to the principles of socially responsible business. An attempt will be made to verify the research hypothesis, which assumes a positive impact of selected stock market indicators on the stabilization of quotations of the analyzed index. The research method will be the estimation of an econometric model built from dependent variable Y describing changes in the quotations of the WIG-ESG index and six independent variables describing selected stock market indicators exerting a greater or lesser influence on the changes in the quotations included in the monthly time interval in the research period January 2014–November 2023. It is concluded that the relationship between stock market capitalization and the value of equity estimated at the end of the last quarter is the basis for stabilizing the quotations of the index.