We provide the first empirical test of the relation between CEO narcissism and earnings manipulation. We test the hypothesis that narcissistic leaders over-identify themselves with the organizations they lead and expend considerable effort to achieve their goals, including by engaging in unethical behaviour. Earnings announcements are highly anticipated information releases by organizations. They are a key performance indicator used to evaluate the performance of CEOs. This study examines the use of first person singular pronouns by CEOs in response to questions at analyst conferences to measure narcissism. We provide evidence that firms with narcissistic CEOs engage in accruals management to manage earnings positively, highlighting the important effect of CEO personality on accounting choices.

Several studies have reported strong evidence of commonality in liquidity in US markets. The present study uses the research design of Chordia "et al". (2000) to examine commonality in liquidity for a broad sample of stocks listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). In contrast to previous research, there is some evidence of market-wide commonality in liquidity for ASX stocks, but it is less significant and less pervasive than that observed in other markets. These results are consistent with explanations based on differences in market structure between the USA and Australia. Copyright (c) 2004 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand.

This study examines the impact of allowing traders to co‐locate their servers near exchange servers on the liquidity of futures contracts traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. It provides evidence of an increase in proxies for high‐frequency trading activity following the introduction of co‐location. There is strong evidence of a decrease in bid–ask spreads and an increase in market depth after the introduction of co‐location. We conclude that the introduction of co‐location enhances liquidity. We conjecture that co‐location improves the efficiency with which liquidity providers (including market maker high‐frequency traders) are able to make markets. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 34:20–33, 2014

Purpose -Opposition to transnational calls for the adoption of accrual-based accounting in the public sector may stem from arguments that it is associated with poor earnings quality. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether state owned enterprises (SOEs) operating under accrual-based accounting manage their earnings, whether it is more prevalent vis-a`-vis privately owned enterprises (POEs) and the conditions under which it is more likely to occur. Design/methodology/approach -This paper measures earnings management for a large sample of unlisted Italian SOEs and POEs using a framework developed by Stubben (2010). The authors use regression analysis to estimate the variables which predict abnormal accruals including firm size, leverage and profitability. Findings -The authors find no evidence that the level of state ownership (SO) is positively correlated with accrual-based earnings management. The authors also provide evidence that earnings management by SOEs decreases with firm size and increases with profitability. Research limitations/implications -While the study is the first to examine earnings management in a public sector accrual accounting environment for a sample of European firms, namely Italian firms, the authors call for more research into this issue examining public entities in other European Union (EU) member states or public entities other than SOEs. Practical implications -The EU recently introduced a new transnational accounting directive in which it prescribes the preparation of financial statements based on accrual accounting for all European public sector entities, arguing that it reduces the window dressing that is allowed by cash accounting. Since Italian SOEs already prepare their accounts on an accruals-basis, by analysing their accounting behaviour the authors are able to determine the variables which predict when earning management is more likely to occur in a public sector accrual accounting environment, and therefore the authors provide guidance which may be useful in shaping the transition process from cash accounting to accrual accounting by identifying the types of entities whose accounts should be subject to greater regulatory scrutiny. A better understanding of the relation between SO and earnings management will provide insight into public sector corporate governance and aid in the acceptance of transnational regulation that would otherwise significantly alter current accounting practices and possibly be opposed at a national level.

This study empirically examines the impact of changes in substantial shareholdings ahead of 450 Australian takeover offers between the years 2000 and 2009. Previous studies have attributed a significant proportion of the price run-up effect in takeover targets to insider-trading behaviour. This study examines the contribution of a broad range of public information sources that are known to typically generate market anticipation, including the acquisition of toeholds ahead of takeover announcements. Our findings show no significant pre-bid run-up for takeover targets after considering these sources. We conclude from these results that previous findings attributing pre-bid share price run-up to illegal insider trading may overstate the existence of such conduct.