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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the relation between cash flow volatility and trade credit offered by firms in developing Asian economies. Design/methodology/approach The study conducts country fixed effect regressions testing the relationship between cash flow volatility and firm investment in trade credit. The relationship is then examined with all firms separated into two groups based on firm size, and then again comparing the relation before and after the 2008 finasncial crisis. Findings Higher levels of cash flow volatility are negatively related to the amount of trade credit offered. The negative relationship with cash flow volatility is greater amongst smaller firms that may have less access to external sources of capital. Additionally, the negative relationship is greater following the 2008 financial crisis. Practical implications Trade credit plays an important role in the business process, particularly in developing economies. However, these firms may not be able to maintain their investment in trade credit when experiencing greater levels of cash flow volatility. These results are especially pronounced after the 2008 financial crisis and for small firms. Originality/value This study identifies an important connection between cash flow volatility and firm investment in trade credit among firms in developing Asian economies.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify three factors leading to the observed decline in trade credit offered from publicly traded firms. Design/methodology/approach The study conducts firm fixed effect regressions testing the relationship between cash flow volatility and firm investment in trade credit. The relationship is further examined with all firms separated into two groups, based on SIC codes, designating if they are in industries that traditionally offer higher amounts of trade credit. Findings The proportion of US firms that has traditionally extended the most trade credit has been decreasing over time, contributing to part of the decline in trade credit offered. Increases in cash flow volatility have also contributed to decreasing investment in trade credit. The negative relationship with cash flow volatility is greatest amongst firms that traditionally place the highest value on trade credit. Firms with access to credit, proxied by investment grade debt ratings, do not experience the same decline in trade credit offered. Practical implications Firms that value the ability to extend trade credit may maintain their level of investment in trade credit, even with increased risk of cash flow volatility, by maintaining a comparative advantage in access to credit. Originality/value This study extends prior findings by providing three previously unexplored explanations for the decline in offered trade credit seen in the USA. The changing make-up of publicly traded firms, a market-wide increase in cash flow volatility, and access to credit all play an important role in observed declines of trade credit investment.

We examine the operating performance of equity REITs following seasoned equity offerings from 1990–2007. This study uses a variety of measures of operating cash flow and documents improvements in industry-adjusted operating performance prior to issue and a statistically significant decline in these measures after issuance. The deterioration in operating performance of REITs is similar in magnitude to that found for industrial firms in prior studies. We find evidence of mean reversion in operating performance and timing by issuing firms, and that information asymmetry plays an important role in the results. Notably, in using a longer sample period and a variety of cash flow measures and benchmarks, this study finds evidence that is in contrast to results found in an earlier analysis of REIT operating performance