This study investigates the stock‐market reaction to layoff announcements where more than 1000 workers are affected. We employ a dummy variable regression (DVR) version of the market model and compare the results obtained using ordinary least squares (OLS) versus exponential GARCH (EGARCH), and value‐weighted (VW) versus equally weighted (EW) market index. We find that the stock market responds negatively to layoffs attributed to low demand. We also find that contrary to prior research, the market reacts positively to restructuring‐related layoffs on the announcement date. This pattern of market reaction is observed regardless of the market index used or the parameter estimation methods employed, although the empirical results indicate that using EGARCH/VW market index tends to generate fewer statistically significant test results and smaller (in the absolute size of the cumulative) abnormal returns (ARs). Taken together, our study provides additional support for the claim that studies of stock‐market reaction to corporate events must account for the time variation in return volatility. Ignoring these could result in erroneous inferences.
There is still no consensus on whether small firm or value stock anomalies exist. We examine the last half of the 20th century and apply a six-factor macroeconomic model to test for the presence of these abnormal returns. Using four proxies for value, we find that detecting this anomaly is sensitive to choice of proxy, the magnitude of the abnormal returns varies over time, and the anomaly does not persist through time. Additional tests provide evidence that abnormal returns for small, value-oriented, and growth-oriented firms differ significantly under restrictive versus expansive monetary policy regimes. 2004 The Southern Finance Association and the Southwestern Finance Association.
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