Optimal trading range and firm value around the Asian financial crisis

The cross-sectional share price variation in eight East Asian markets before, during and after the 1997 Asian financial crisis is examined. The paper also studies whether firms in these markets correct their share prices to the optimal trading range using stock splits. The results vary across countries, across firms and across periods. Although some anomalies in some markets are found, most results are consistent with Merton's (1987) investor recognition hypothesis in an incomplete information market. Small firms as less-recognised firms choose low prices to attract small shareholders, thus increasing their shareholder base and the firm's value. Ownership concentration and corporate governance are found to be very important in explaining cross-sectional stock price variation. Specifically, small firms in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand made stock splits to maintain their preferred share prices.