Investors’ behaviour in regard to company earnings announcements during the recession period: Evidence from the Macedonian stock exchange

Abstract

The study investigates the reaction of investors to annual earnings releases as reflected in the volume and price movements of common stocks during a recession. We provide an apparent example where investors did not react to firm-specific positive earnings announcements. Event methodology is employed, and the returns in an event window, defined conventionally as the day before to two days after a firm-specific public earnings announcement, are not abnormal. The volume of trade in the event window is not atypical either. The psychological impact on the investors was such that fear could not be alleviated by the good news and good financial results.