Informed Trading in Options Markets Surrounding Data Breaches

Abstract

We explore whether there is informed trading, which takes advantage of data breach events. By analyzing transactions in the options market, we conjecture that there are two distinct informed trading patterns that likely begin approximately four months prior and from twelve months to eight months prior to corporate data-breach announcements, which are supported by evidence of higher trading volume and open interest for put options, a higher put-to-call volume ratio, a higher put-to-call open interest ratio, and lower spreads prior to data-breach announcements. We further examine stock reactions following data-breach announcements and find significantly negative CARs of -0.35% within one day. Cross-sectional analysis provides evidence that put-call ratios have predictive power for stock returns. We provide additional evidences such as possible trading strategies in stock markets and options markets.

Keywords: informed trading, cybersecurity, data breach, option market

JEL Classification: G13, G14, K24