Run EDGAR Run: SEC Dissemination in a High-Frequency World

63 Pages Posted: 24 Oct 2014 Last revised: 17 Feb 2017

See all articles by Jonathan L. Rogers

Jonathan L. Rogers

University of Colorado at Boulder - Leeds School of Business

Douglas J. Skinner

The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

Sarah L. C. Zechman

University of Colorado at Boulder - Leeds School of Business

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 1, 2017

Abstract

We describe the process the SEC uses to make filings “publicly available.” For a sample of Form 4 (insider trade) filings, we show that, during the period we examine, the majority of filings are available to paying subscribers of the SEC’s PDS feed before they are posted to the SEC website, and so provide subscribers and their clients with a private advantage. We show that this advantage translates into an economically significant trading advantage, and that prices, volumes, and spreads respond to the news contained in filings beginning around 30 seconds before public posting. These findings indicate that the SEC dissemination process does not always provide a level playing field and that the meaning of publicly-available information in capital markets is no longer simple or obvious. In response to our study, the SEC launched an investigation and agreed to eliminate the PDS timing advantage.

Keywords: Event Study, Insider trading, High Frequency Trading (HFT), EDGAR, SEC dissemination, SEC filings

JEL Classification: G14, G28, M41

Suggested Citation

Rogers, Jonathan L. and Skinner, Douglas J. and Zechman, Sarah L. C., Run EDGAR Run: SEC Dissemination in a High-Frequency World (January 1, 2017). Chicago Booth Research Paper No. 14-36, Fama-Miller Working Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2513350 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2513350

Jonathan L. Rogers

University of Colorado at Boulder - Leeds School of Business ( email )

419 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0419
United States

Douglas J. Skinner

The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-7137 (Phone)

Sarah L. C. Zechman (Contact Author)

University of Colorado at Boulder - Leeds School of Business ( email )

Boulder, CO 80309-0419
United States

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