Using firm-level data from 23 developed markets, we document a positive association between overall firm-level governance quality and the informativeness of earnings announcements measured by abnormal stock return variance. This finding is robust after controlling for the potential endogeneity...

This study documents the characteristics and information value of corporate disclosures of forward-looking information in different equity markets. It focuses on the extent to which national differences in legal and regulatory environments, and systems of corporate governance and finance...

U.S. stocks have been shown to earn higher returns during earnings announcement months than during non-announcement months. We document that this earnings announcement premium exists across the globe. Using data from 46 countries, we find that the average stock return during earnings...

We investigate whether ESG ratings predict future ESG news and the associated market reactions. We find that the consensus rating predicts future news, but its predictive ability diminishes for firms with large disagreement between raters. Relation between news and market reaction is moderated...

The relative importance of country- and industry-specified factors vis-à-vis company-specific financial-statement-based information in explaining equity valuation multiples in an international setting is examined. Both country-specific effects via previously identified variables and an...

Governments, organizations and individuals around the world are paying increasing attention to climate change and carbon emissions. This paper argues that a new international assurance standard on carbon emissions disclosures is an appropriate response by the auditing and assurance profession to...

We examine the relationship between disclosure of nonfinancial information and analyst forecast accuracy using firm-level data from 31 countries. We use the issuance of standalone corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports to proxy for disclosure of nonfinancial information. We find that the...

Using a sample from 22 countries, I investigate the relations between the accuracy of analysts' earnings forecasts and the level of annual report disclosure; and between forecast accuracy and the degree of enforcement of accounting standards. I document that firm-level disclosures are positively...