Analysis of the timeliness of financial statements submitted by companies of the Spanish continuous market

Abstract

This study examines the timeliness of the financial information of the companies that form part of the Spanish continuous market and the factors that influence this. The sample comprises 105 companies that formed part of the Spanish continuous market at the end of 2004, and the period of study runs from the first half-year of 2002 to the second halfyear of 2008, considering only the half-yearly and annual information. The results obtained with the panel data model demonstrate that the company size and the pressure exerted on particular sectors, have a direct effect on the timeliness of the financial information, and a smaller number of days for the information submission is observed. However, the variable audit report seems to be the main cause of delay.