RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Short Selling and the Cross-Section of Corporate
Bond Returns JF The Journal of Fixed Income FD Institutional Investor Journals SP 54 OP 77 DO 10.3905/jfi.2016.26.2.054 VO 26 IS 2 A1 Stephen E. Christophe A1 Michael G. Ferri A1 Jim Hsieh A1 Tao-Hsien Dolly King YR 2016 UL https://pm-research.com/content/26/2/54.abstract AB This article studies the effect of short selling in the equity market on corporate bond returns. We show that firms with heavily shorted shares or large short-trade sizes experience significantly negative future bond returns. Further tests indicate that the relationship between short-trade size and subsequent bond returns is more consistent with stealth trading of short sellers. The impact of short selling on bond returns is robust to various controls for risk, liquidity, and other pricing factors. In examining the information source of short selling, we find that firms associated with heavy shorting activities or large short-trade sizes are likely to subsequently experience negative earnings surprises, higher credit risk, and reduced dividends. The evidence provides little support for the overvaluation argument. Overall, the results are consistent with the proposition that short trades in the equity market exert important valuation consequences in the corporate bond market.TOPIC: Fixed income and structured finance