Informed Trading Around Merger and Acquisition Announcements: Evidence from the UK Equity and Options Market

Journal of Futures Markets, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 703-726, 2011

36 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2010 Last revised: 10 Jun 2011

See all articles by Georgia Siougle

Georgia Siougle

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance

Spyros I. Spyrou

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance

Andrianos E. Tsekrekos

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance

Date Written: January 28, 2010

Abstract

This paper offers new evidence on informed trading around merger and acquisition announcements from the UK equity and options market. The analysis suggests that in about 25%-33% of events there is abnormal option trading volume during the month that precedes the announcement. Such evidence is found in both call and put option volumes, is robust to different ‘estimation’ and ‘event window’ lengths, different sub-samples, and to liquidity considerations. In addition, the findings indicate abnormal pre-event stock returns, mainly for large firms that have equity option contracts traded on their common shares. These results support the argument that informed investors will transact in both the options and the stock market, and are comparable to results reported by the FSA in the cash market.

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions, Informed Trading, Options Trading

JEL Classification: G12, G14, G34

Suggested Citation

Siougle, Georgia and Spyrou, Spyros I. and Tsekrekos, Andrianos E., Informed Trading Around Merger and Acquisition Announcements: Evidence from the UK Equity and Options Market (January 28, 2010). Journal of Futures Markets, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 703-726, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1590872

Georgia Siougle

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

76 Patission Street
GR-104 34 Athens
Greece

Spyros I. Spyrou (Contact Author)

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

76 Patission Street
GR-104 34 Athens
Greece

Andrianos E. Tsekrekos

Athens University of Economics and Business - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

76 Patission Street
GR-104 34 Athens
Greece

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