Dynamic futures‐hedging ratios are estimated across seven markets using generalized models of the variance/covariance structure. The hedging performances of the resultant dynamic strategies are then compared with static and naïve strategies, both in‐ and out‐of‐sample....

In contrast to the double taxation system prevailing in the U.S., Australian firms operate within an imputation tax environment with respect to dividend payments. We argue that the dividend imputation tax system increases the signaling potential of dividend reductions and our empirical findings...

Australian companies can choose among three different types of rights offerings: full standby (also known as “fully underwritten”); uninsured (or “non-underwritten”); and partial standby (“partly underwritten”). At the same time, each of these three kinds of rights offerings can be...

We analyze the direct impacts of managerial overconfidence upon the dividend decision and demonstrate that the dividend levels and speeds of adjustment to target levels can increase when managers exhibit overconfidence. However, we demonstrate that the directional impact upon dividend levels...

Australian companies pay dividends semi-annually with smaller “interim” payments and larger “final” payments. Interim dividends are declared and paid within a less full information environment than final dividends. We analyze the interactions between the timing of dividends and their...

Rights offerings in Australia provide valuable choices to the issuer in terms of both underwriting and renounceability. We formulate a set of hypotheses from a quality-signalling perspective, affording an analysis of the key interrelations between quality, underwriting status, renounceability,...

We find that the informed trading measures “abnormal O/S ratio”, “abnormal option volume” and “abnormal implied volatility skew” are negatively related to event period abnormal returns for accelerated share repurchases (ASRs) announcements. This effect is stronger for call options...

We examine the issuance choice across rights issues of equity, unit offerings and standalone warrants and investigate the market reactions to these issue types. We find that agency costs, growth opportunities and current funding needs relative to assets in place are prime drivers of the type of...

Firms are more likely to pay dividends with higher payout ratios in an imputation environment. The effects of profitability and earned/contributed capital mix on the decision to pay dividends and dividend payout are weaker for firms following imputation tax system than traditional tax system....

We find that informed trading in the option market prior to dividend initiation is negatively related to announcement period price reactions. This relation is more prevalent among firms with abnormal trading in call options, higher stock price runup, and higher option liquidity. We also find...