Insider trading in Hong Kong: Some stylized facts

This paper examines the characteristics and price movements of legal insider transactions in Hong Kong. Abnormal returns are analyzed for intensive trading, as well as for samples grouped by industry classification, firm size, book-to-market ratio, price–earnings ratio, and relative trading volume of the insider transactions. Results show that insiders are able to earn abnormal profits from both buying and selling activities. The magnitude of and duration for abnormal profits depend significantly on firm-specific and transaction-specific factors. We also document the persistence of abnormal returns associated with insider sales, while abnormal profits associated with insider purchases are concentrated in certain transactions.