{"title":"The capital market consequence of sustained abnormal Audit fees: Evidence from stock price crash risk","authors":"Sang Mook Lee , Jong Chool Park , Hakjoon Song","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prior studies provide mixed interpretations for the effect of abnormal audit fees on audit quality. One interpretation is that abnormal audit fees reflect economic bonding which decreases audit quality, while the other interpretation is that they are associated with unobserved audit efforts and audit risk. We argue that long-term abnormal audit fees clarify mixed evidence, as they reflect the gradual formation and development of both economic bonding and sustained auditor efforts over time. We examine the effect of long-term abnormal audit fees on audit quality by focusing on client's future stock price crash risk. Using 42,604 firm-year observations of U.S. firms, we find that sustained positive abnormal audit fees (consistently positive long-term abnormal audit fees) are negatively associated with future stock price crash risk, supporting the auditor effort argument and negating the economic bonding argument. We also find weak evidence that current-period abnormal audit fees are positively associated with future stock price crash risk, supporting the audit risk argument. Overall, our evidence shows that the magnitude and the pattern of long-term abnormal audit fees jointly affect audit quality in mitigating a client's bad news hoarding behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101387"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140643249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Key audit matters disclosures and informed traders","authors":"Zabihollah Rezaee , Saeid Homayoun","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We examine whether the audit regulation<span><span> of disclosing key audit matters (KAM) provides value-relevant information to short sellers as informed investors. The theoretical underpinning for examining short sellers' ability and incentives to use KAM disclosures in their stock valuation implications is based on a prediction theory and a skilled information processing theory of short sellers. Using a sample of expanded </span>auditor's reports from UK-listed firms during the 2010–2017 period and hand-collecting a dataset of KAM disclosures, we find no evidence that the short interest is different for the period before than after the U.K.'s expanded auditor's report regulation. However, in our cross-sectional tests, we find that KAM disclosures have a marginal effect on short interest and a positive association between short interest and unexpected and severe KAM disclosures. We conclude that, except for severe KAM that is value-relevant to sophisticated investors, the disclosures in the expanded auditor's report have no valuation implications for short sellers. Our results are robust in examining the reactions of the financial market and analysts to KAM disclosures and addressing potential endogeneity concerns.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101386"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140779030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruizhe Wang , Wai Fong Chua , Roger Simnett , Shan Zhou
{"title":"Is greater connectivity of financial and non-financial information in annual reports valued by market participants?","authors":"Ruizhe Wang , Wai Fong Chua , Roger Simnett , Shan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101407","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101407","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The establishment of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and the endorsement by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) foundation of the principles underlying the Integrated Reporting (IR) Framework, attest to a regulatory intent to develop a disclosure framework better connecting sustainability-related financial disclosures with financial disclosures. Strategic Reporting (SR), effective in the United Kingdom (U.K.) since 2013, is a prime example of such a framework. Utilizing proprietary data from PwC U.K., we find higher SR disclosure quality is associated with higher liquidity, lower cost of capital, and more accurate, less dispersed analysts’ forecasts. We then hypothesize and compare these impacts with the capital market effects of disclosure quality under the reporting framework preceding SR. We find that the effects of higher liquidity and lower cost of capital are more pronounced under SR, suggesting that SR, as a mandated, more connected reporting framework, enables more effective capital market communication. We also find that the incremental capital market benefits are more significant for entities with higher exposure to the change, better sustainability performance and higher organizational complexity. For regulators and standard setters, these findings indicate that their emphasis on greater connectivity of financial and non-financial information is valued by market participants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101407"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890838924001641/pdfft?md5=cba492ad19900a8084f8b8fb25cb6ee9&pid=1-s2.0-S0890838924001641-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141329542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mimicking crypto portfolios in sustainable investment","authors":"Mengxia Yu , Ke Xu , Xinwei Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, considering the difference in the energy demand level, we utilize the daily pricing data from 10/01/2019 to 06/30/2023 to construct mimicking crypto portfolios with 12 clean cryptocurrencies to replace the dirty cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC). With a monthly rebalancing strategy, the mimicking portfolio closely matches the exposures to the risk factors of the BTC but with fewer specific risks. Furthermore, relying on the bivariate dynamic conditional correlation (DCC-) GARCH model, we compare the hedging capability of BTC and the corresponding mimicking crypto portfolio against movements of returns of sustainable assets. The empirical results show that the mimicking crypto portfolio provides ESG investors with a cheaper hedge tool of higher hedge effectiveness compared to the BTC. Moreover, we find that the mimicking crypto portfolio can act as a strong safe haven for the S&P Global Clean Energy Index and S&P Latin America Emerging LargeMidCap ESG Index during periods of market stress. Therefore, the mimicking crypto portfolio is a more attractive option for ESG investors due to its superior hedging efficiency and the added environmental advantages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101463"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890838924002270/pdfft?md5=c977104002f95322f9c0f54de4b08f26&pid=1-s2.0-S0890838924002270-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142100791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mostafa Monzur Hasan , Md Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan , Grantley Taylor
{"title":"Corporate culture and carbon emission performance","authors":"Mostafa Monzur Hasan , Md Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan , Grantley Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101462","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using a large sample of U.S. firms from 2002 to 2020, we investigate the relationship between corporate culture and the extent of carbon emissions. We provide evidence that the quantum of carbon emissions is negatively associated with corporate cultural attributes manifested by integrity, teamwork, innovation, and respect. These results hold after controlling for potential endogeneity issues using several identification techniques. We also document that the negative culture–emissions relationship is magnified in firms with weak corporate governance and in those operating in environmentally sensitive industries. Additionally, this relationship is less salient in the presence of social capital. Finally, we demonstrate that in firms with a stronger culture, elevated carbon emissions result in a lower firm value. Our findings may be of interest to environmental regulators and management in their pursuit of firm-level carbon emission targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101462"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890838924002269/pdfft?md5=e92888a5dafa7700ee6273fe8bf8a7ba&pid=1-s2.0-S0890838924002269-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142100793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemic experience, analyst sentiment, and earnings forecasts: Evidence from SARS exposure","authors":"Lihua Liu , Dongmin Kong","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines whether exposure to dangerous infectious diseases affects how analysts assess risks. We use the outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) at analysts' previous office locations across China as a plausibly exogenous shock in the analysts' life experience. We show that compared to their less-affected counterparts, analysts in provinces with more SARS cases issue more optimistic forecasts for firms. This effect is stronger for affected analysts in provinces perceived as more salient during the SARS epidemic period. Mechanism tests show a high level of unexpected economic growth and positive media reports can motivate optimistic forecast bias induced by SARS exposure. Further heterogeneity tests indicate that our findings are particularly pronounced among busier analysts, those with less industry specialization, and female analysts. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to the SARS epidemic influences the information intermediaries’ judgment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101452"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142312557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Capitalism and the return on capital employed. Some further evidence","authors":"John Richard Edwards","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Return on capital employed is recognised both as a symbol of capitalism and as a calculation designed to help achieve the more effective deployment of available resources. Dating the emergence of this ‘accounting signature’ has been the subject of vigorous debate. Rob Bryer believes that calculation of the return on capital employed played a meaningful role in business life from the eighteenth century onwards whereas Steven Toms (2006, p. 206) finds scant evidence of the existence of this emblem of a capitalist mentality until ‘much later’. This paper seeks to contribute to this debate based on the contents of the Spencer Stanhope archive, Eighteenth Century Collections Online and UK Parliamentary Papers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101320"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139420147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Audit committee member busyness and risk factor disclosure","authors":"Cristina Bailey , Joshua J. Filzen","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Audit committees in the U.S. oversee risk management within organizations, including oversight of the disclosure of risk factors in periodic filings. Because audit committees have become increasingly over-burdened, we examine the impact of the busyness of audit committee members, measured via members’ service on other boards, on risk factor disclosures. We find firms with busy members issue disclosures that are of lower quality (i.e., less readable and less focused on firm fundamentals). Further, we find that firms with busy members are more likely to issue timely updates to disclosures. However, these updates are more likely to be vague—implying they are inconsequential to the market. We find these results are primarily driven by service in other non-audit committee roles. In additional cross-sectional tests, we find that our results are strongest when there is more uncertainty or complexity in the business environment. Finally, additional specifications and tests show that our results are robust to concerns related to endogeneity. Overall, we find that the busyness of audit committee members has important implications for risk factor disclosures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101442"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141697343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Product market shock, stakeholder relationships, and trade credit","authors":"Jagriti Srivastava , Balagopal Gopalakrishnan , Rajesh Tharyan","doi":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bar.2024.101458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an extremely rare instance of a shock to global product markets. Using quarterly data for a sample of 7397 firms from 54 countries over the period 2017–2020, we study the causal impact of this shock on trade credit. Employing a difference-in-difference analysis, we find that, in contrast to findings in the literature on financial market shocks, low-credit quality firms are credit-rationed by their suppliers during a shock to product markets and that for low-credit quality firms, there is no substitution of trade credit with financial credit. Importantly, however, our analysis shows that low-credit quality firms with better stakeholder relations are able to obtain more trade credit than those with weaker stakeholder relations. Our results are robust to alternative definitions of key variables, alternative methodologies that address endogeneity concerns, a placebo test, stage of market development, and various levels of controls for unobserved heterogeneity. We show that trade credit is conditional on product market conditions and is not always a generous substitute for financial credit. However, maintaining good relations with stakeholders serves as an antidote to the adverse effect of product market shocks on trade credit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47996,"journal":{"name":"British Accounting Review","volume":"56 6","pages":"Article 101458"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890838924002221/pdfft?md5=17f806cbc0dff2f3ef0c625b8a7b510c&pid=1-s2.0-S0890838924002221-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142045849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}