Changes in stock returns and trading volume of American depositary receipts around their U.S. stock exchange listing switches

Abstract

This study examines the change in stock returns and trading volume of American Depositary Receipts when foreign firms switched their listings from a major U.S. stock exchange to a more prestigious U.S. stock exchange; namely from the NASDAQ or American Stock Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange or from the American Stock Exchange to the NASDAQ since year 2000. We find that the stock returns of these American Depositary Receipts changed from better-than-market performance before the listing changes to just market performance after the listing changes. This evidence is consistent with a timing behavior of the management. We also find significant increase in their trading volume after the listing changes. This leads us to conclude that switching to a more prestigious stock exchange was able to create more investor interest. © 2012 The Clute Institute.