Information Processing Effects of Accounting Consistency: Evidence from Egypt

Abstract

Using path analysis, this study investigates the direct and indirect effect of accounting consistency and accounting-based earnings quality proxy on market synchronicity of the Egyptian listed firms. We firstly examine how time-series accounting consistency achieves earnings quality. We find a significant association between time series accounting consistency and lower variation of accruals residuals. We also examine the direct impact of accruals quality on stock returns synchronicity. We find a significant association between lower variation of accruals residuals and higher stock returns synchronicity.  Finally we examine the direct and indirect impact of accounting consistency on market synchronicity. We find that the consistent use of accounting policies can achieve market synchronicity only after achieving earnings quality. Our findings indicate that earnings quality increases the effect of time series accounting consistency on achieving stock returns synchronicity.