Which Firm-specific Characteristics Affect the Market Reaction of Chinese Listed Companies to the COVID-19 Pandemic?

This paper investigates market reaction to the novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find that market reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak is more intense in firms within the industries that are vulnerable to the virus, and those with high institutional investors. Furthermore, firms with larger scale, better profitability and growth opportunity, higher combined leverage, and less fixed assets experience less adverse impact of the COVID-19 outbreak than other firms.