Investor Inattention and the Market Reaction to Merger Announcements
Posted: 16 May 2010 Last revised: 8 Apr 2022
Date Written: May 13, 2010
Abstract
Prior studies suggest that investors have limited attention. Tests of the inattention hypothesis have been performed in the context of relatively small corporate events, particularly earnings announcements. Presumably, large corporate events would always attract sufficient investor attention. However, we find evidence indicating that inattention affects investors’ information processing even in the context of one of the largest and most important corporate events – merger announcements. More specifically, consistent with the notion that investors are less attentive to Friday announcements, the market reaction to Friday stock swap announcements is muted, as evidenced by lower acquirers’ merger announcement abnormal trading volumes and less pronounced acquirers’ merger announcement abnormal stock returns.
Keywords: Investor inattention, Merger, Market efficiency
JEL Classification: G14, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation