Open market share repurchase and price volatility in Indian stock market

Abstract

This paper examines the causality between open market repurchase announcements and price volatility in Indian Stock Market. To assess the stock price reactions to open market repurchase public announcements, a random sample of two companies (Infosys and IIFL) have been selected from all companies that declared open market repurchase between June 2020 and March 2022. The analysis is conducted using the GARCH model, which is based on the diagnostic features of time series data, and the outputs of the repurchase announcement analysis of both sample companies are negative. There appears to be a slight decrease in price volatility, however, the dummy coefficient is considered to be statistically insignificant in case of Infosys and significant in case of IIFL, indicating that impact on price volatility leads to asserted outcomes. This can be explained by the fact that, in India, annual and interim dividend payments have been the preferred forms of dividend payment for many years, and open market share repurchases were not accepted as cash payments by investors. In India, the sentiments and dynamics of investor community seem to be changing fairly recently and the preconceived notion of share buybacks in terms of acceptance as cash payments appears to be polemic.