Information Content of Insider Trades Before and After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

49 Pages Posted: 21 Mar 2008 Last revised: 25 Oct 2009

See all articles by Francois Brochet

Francois Brochet

Boston University - Department of Accounting

Date Written: October 2009

Abstract

This paper examines the information content of Form 4 filings under the more timely disclosure regime introduced by Section 403 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Abnormal returns and trading volumes around filings of insider stock purchases are significantly greater after SOX than before. Abnormal trading volumes around filings of insider sales are also greater post-SOX on average, but stock returns are not more negative. However, once controlling for pre-planned transactions, reporting lag, litigation risk, and news following insider trades, I also find a negative association between returns around filings of insider sales and SOX. Overall, the evidence suggests that the prompt public disclosures about insider transactions mandated by the new rule are relevant to the pricing of securities. The results are also consistent with SOX and regulatory actions reducing the incentives to sell ahead of privately known negative news.

Keywords: insider trading, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, information content

JEL Classification: G14, K22, M41

Suggested Citation

Brochet, Francois, Information Content of Insider Trades Before and After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (October 2009). Accounting Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1108731 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1108731

Francois Brochet (Contact Author)

Boston University - Department of Accounting ( email )

595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

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