Business Commons^™

Dr. Harold C. Smith Fund Of Ursinus College Official Prospectus, April 24, 2018, Johnathan Myers, Daan Slaats, Christian D'Ascenzo, Jonathan Guba, Parker Wolf, Sam Sjosten, Haley Sturla, Scott Deacle

Ursinus Student-Managed Investment Fund Prospectus

This prospectus contains investment strategy and performance for the following stocks in the managed fund: Garmin Ltd., Masimo, Micron Technologies, SEI Investments, Waste Management and Stamps.com.

Strategic Implications Of Blockchain, William R. Adams

Marriott Student Review

This thesis introduces blockchain, the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and discusses how best to conceptualize it relative to other technologies. Following an explanation of the fundamentals of blockchain, also known as the distributed ledger, I identify the characteristics of the technology. Building upon blockchain’s inherent strengths and limitations, I explore potential business applications of blockchain. Finally, I recommend that leaders continue to track the development and adoption of blockchain technology, even if they decide that implementing it does not align with their organization’s strategy at present.

Cost Analysis Of Private Student Loans, John Bledsoe

Undergraduate Research Conference

Purpose of Study: To help educate students on the types and possible outcomes of private student loans, hopefully giving them an advantage when/if they are faced with the decision of what type of loan to choose.

Predictive Power? Textual Analysis In Mergers & Acquisitions, Philip Morgan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Modern corporations utilize mergers and acquisitions as strategies to develop shareholder value today more than ever before, yet the need for understanding firms’ rationale and strategy is critical in predicting post-merger stock performance for all investors. I apply the interpretive power of textual analysis and regression to a corpus of SEC mergers and acquisitions public company filings between 1994-2017. Not only do I challenge the statistically significant correlation between word content and post-transaction abnormal stock returns, but I also characterize the effects of time segments, transaction size, and industry variation across time. As a final application, I consider sentiment analysis …

Essays On Ipo Lockups, Wentao Wu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The dissertation includes two chapters. The title of the first chapter is “How Divergence of Opinions Matters: Evidence from Lockup Effects in VC-backed IPOs”. The title of the second chapter is “Short-selling Around IPO Lockup Expiration”.

The first chapter discusses how divergence of investor opinions plays a role in explaining IPO lockup effects in venture capital backed (VC-backed) IPOs. It is well established that IPO lockup expiration is associated with negative cumulative abnormal returns (CARs). While a number of studies have examined these lockup effects, they offer very limited explanations to the phenomenon. Miller (1977) suggests that divergence of investor …

Digital Banking: Overcoming Barriers To Entry, Alan Megargel

Dissertations and Theses Collection

This dissertation examines digital banking from the perspective of two types of industry participants; non-bank FinTech alternative [substitute] financial service providers whom are intent on disrupting the market, and [incumbent] traditional banks whom are urgently pursing digital strategies in order to counteract the FinTech threat. This study is motivated by five main research questions: (1) Are FinTech firms disrupting traditional banks, and if so, what are the modes of disruption? (2) Do tradition banks view FinTech firms as a threat, and if so, what are they doing about it? (3) What are the various digital banking strategies, and how are …

News From The Graduate School - Masters Of Business Administration, Otterbein Office Of Graduate Programs

Graduate School

Newsletter that provides updates from the Graduate School and the MBA Graduate Program.

Ursinus College Investment Club Newsletter, Spring 2018, Haley Sturla, Johnathan Myers, Scott Deacle

Investment Management Company Newsletter

Inside this issue:

A Note to Our Readers and Donor Recognition

Quantitative Strategies with Matt Yuros ’12, TFS Capital

Inside Institutional Investments with Michael Fleming ’97, Vanguard

Bitcoin: Is It A Bubble? with Dr. William Luther, Kenyon College

Portfolio Performance, the First Year

Looking Forward

Shaping Our World For A Better Tomorrow: Sustainable Investing, Esg, And Industry Insight, Anna M. Ballate

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Sustainable investing is a relatively new field in the world of finance and banking. Even though there is tremendous growth in sustainable investments over the past few years, it is still a niche market that requires more transparency, standards, and incentives. Switzerland has become one of the leading countries for sustainable finance, exhibiting a growth in sustainable investments under management. Despite the vast amount of research and development on sustainable investing, there is still much confusion and negative perception in the professional banking world about the topic. This study is designed to fill the gap between the academic rhetoric behind …

The Relationship Between Financial Literacy, Financial Status, And Academic Success In College Students, Brian Douglas Brausch

Dissertations

As the cost of college continues to rise, an increasing number of students are relying on loans and credit cards to fund their postsecondary education. In an effort to curb student debt and increase retention and graduation rates, many universities have begun to offer financial literacy initiatives to stimulate financial knowledge and promote positive money management behaviors.

This study examines the relationship between a for-credit personal financial literacy course and student academic success and economic status. Students who took a personal finance course during their first or second year of college are compared to a random sampling of students who …

Competition And Concentration In Banking Sector: Evidence From Bangladesh, Junnatun Naym

2018 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity – Documents

Abstract

Considering the significance of competition and concentration in pricing, efficiency, productivity and stability of banking sector, this paper has explored the competitive behavior and concentration level in the banking sector of Bangladesh considering 20 commercial banks for the period of 2004-2013. The level of competition has been tested using the Panzar and Rosse model while the level of concentration has been analyzed using concentration indices and the Herfindahl-Hirschman indices in terms of assets, loans, and deposits. The findings point to a non-concentrated market with monopolistic competition in the banking sector of Bangladesh. This paper contributes to the understanding of …

The Impact Of Real Interest Rate On Real Exchange Rate: Empirical Evidence From Japan, Tomiwa Shodipe

2018 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity – Documents

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of real interest rate on the real exchange rate in Japan using Two Stage Least Square econometric techniques. The two instruments used are money supply and gross domestic product growth rates. The result provides support for the theoretical and empirical evidences of positive relationship between real interest rate and real exchange rate in Japan. The estimation also shows that there is positive relation between trade and Japanese Yen over the period considered in the study. In light of these findings, the study suggests the adoption of fiscal macroeconomic policy instruments that are capable of …

Glossary Of Business Evidence, Paul C. Boyd

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Are We There Yet, Impact Investing?, Manqi Shi

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Impact investing has been an evolving field for the past ten years. More and more institutional investors are looking to change their investment approaches to impact investing. Academics, institutions, and international organizations are creating reports and publishing research on the impact investing field, tracking its growing progress. Without any incidents thus far, impact investing is an industry that is about to burst. A retrospective and internal analysis of the field is needed in order to grow at a better and faster pace. This paper is attempting to fill a hole in the information about impact investing. It provides a comprehensive …

Financial Literacy: Impact On Student Success, Alexandra Cummingham

Honors Projects in Accounting

Financial literacy has proven to be an essential skill for young adults to help in achieving success and reaching one’s potential. Many studies find that those with a stronger background in financial literacy are more likely to demonstrate positive behaviors, both financially and in other areas. This study will attempt to draw a link between Bryant University students’ background in financial literacy and benefits within the college classroom. Specifically, my study will look at whether having a stronger background in financial literacy leads to increased confidence in the classroom, decreased accounting anxiety, and superior academic performance. The study uses primary …

Can Students Studying Abroad Use Forward Exchange Rates As A Tool For Better Budgeting Their Semesters?, Emalee Dunbar

Honors Projects in Finance

Traveling abroad requires an immense amount of planning and attention to detail. Budgeting is a difficult task in one’s own country, but when planning across borders, that task becomes even greater. Differences in exchange rates and buying power have the potential to adversely affect the budget set ahead of time, placing more stress on the traveler. Financial tools available in the foreign exchange market, if used strategically, may provide a reliable method to budgeting travel abroad as accurately as possible. There are many individuals, students especially, that plan on traveling or studying abroad yet are on tight budgets. Having a …

Industry Tournament Incentives, Zhichuan Li

Business Publications

We empirically assess industry tournament incentives for CEOs, as measured by the compensation gap between a CEO at one firm and the highest-paid CEO among similar (industry, size) firms. We find that firm performance, firm risk, and the riskiness of firm investment and financial policies are positively associated with the external industry pay gap. The industry tournament effects are stronger when industry, firm, and executive characteristics indicate high CEO mobility and a higher probability of the aspirant executive winning.

Ethics And Effectiveness Of Microloans For Women In Developing Countries, Elizabeth Erika Killion 18

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Executive Summary_Financing Climate Resilience: Mobilizing Resources And Incentives To Protect Boston From Climate Risks, David L. Levy, Rebecca Herst

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report explores the challenges of financing climate-resilience investments in the Boston region. As risks from storm surge, sea level rise, and extreme weather increase, there is growing urgency for pre-disaster investments to reduce physical risk, reduce social vulnerability, and increase capacity for emergency response and disaster recovery. However, these investments face significant barriers, including market failures, capital budget constraints, and misaligned incentives. The report identifies a range of funding mechanisms appropriate at different scales, including general obligation bonds, resilience fees, property tax surcharges, stormwater fees, tax increment financing, business improvement districts, and insurance-based funding. It evaluates these mechanisms using …

17 Days: Cross-Country With Social Media, Zachary Alvarado

Senior Theses

"Austin Prescott and Zach Alvarado travel from South Carolina to California using social media to find and communicate with hosts throughout the country..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8k6EQnW5D4

Costs of investment were weighed against capital contributions throughout our campaign. While the film serves to inspire, entertain, and inform, the paper dives deeper into the brand-building, cost-savings, and logistics of the trip. In the end, we more than doubled our initial investment and had an awesome time while doing it.

Financial Literacy In South Carolina, Connor Pestovich, Matthew Travis

Senior Theses

Being wise with finances is a skill that many people tend to overlook as important. There are days when an individual can avoid using certain subjects learned in high school, but very rarely, if ever, is there a day when topics of finance are not used. This could be anything from purchasing food, driving to work, working on a computer, or receiving a paycheck. While most would agree that the ability to handle money wisely is very important, these concepts do not have a high priority of being taught in high schools in South Carolina. More than that, many parents …

The Propensity To Split And Ceo Compensation, Erik Devos, William B. Elliott, Richard S. Warr

2018 Faculty Bibliography

We analyze the relation between the delta and vega of a chief executive officer’s (CEO) compensation and the propensity of the firm to engage in a split. Controlling for other well-known factors, we find that CEOs with compensation that has higher levels of delta are more likely to split their shares. Furthermore, the choice of split factor is inversely related to delta. Our results are economically significant: for the average (median) firm in our sample, a stock split results in a CEO wealth gain of $4.9 million ($84,000).

Director Networks And Credit Ratings, Bradley W. Benson, Subramanian R. Iyer, Kristopher Kemper, Jing Zhao

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

We explore the effect of director social capital, directors with large and influential networks, on credit ratings. Using a sample of 11,172 firm‐year observations from 1999 to 2011, we find that larger board networks are associated with higher credit ratings than both firm financial data and probabilities of default predict. Near‐investment grade firms improve their forward‐looking ratings when their board is more connected. Last, we find that larger director networks are more beneficial during recessions, and times of increased financial uncertainty. Our results are robust to controls for endogeneity. Tests confirm that causality runs from connected boards to credit ratings.

Uni Finance Newsletter, N01, Spring 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Finance.

Department of Finance Newsletter

News about the activities of the Department of Finance

Strategies For Trading Volatility Using Options, Alyssa Hebert

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Financing Climate Resilience: Mobilizing Resources And Incentives To Protect Boston From Climate Risks, David L. Levy, Rebecca Herst

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report explores the challenges of financing climate-resilience investments in the Boston region. As risks from storm surge, sea level rise, and extreme weather increase, there is growing urgency for pre-disaster investments to reduce physical risk, reduce social vulnerability, and increase capacity for emergency response and disaster recovery. However, these investments face significant barriers, including market failures, capital budget constraints, and misaligned incentives. The report identifies a range of funding mechanisms appropriate at different scales, including general obligation bonds, resilience fees, property tax surcharges, stormwater fees, tax increment financing, business improvement districts, and insurance-based funding. It evaluates these mechanisms using …

The Path To Mainstream Finance: Exploring Complementary Currencies And Interest-Free Lending, Ema Di Fruscia

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores elements of alternative finance including complementary currencies, credit clearing systems, and Islamic Banking practices. I begin first by outlining the issues created by the mainstream western banking model, including wealth inequality, socioeconomic discrimination, environmental degradation, and the collapse of small businesses and local economies. I go on to introduce and define the concepts of complementary currencies, Local Exchange Trading Systems, and credit clearing systems; I argue that these systems challenge the popularly held perceptions that currencies and mainstream banking practices in general are immutable, given, or ideal. To support this assertion, I transition into my research findings …

A Comparison Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Prediction Of Past Due Service In Commercial Credit, Liyuan Liu M.A, M.S., Jennifer Lewis Priestley Ph.D.

Published and Grey Literature from PhD Candidates

Credit risk modeling has carried a variety of research interest in previous literature, and recent studies have shown that machine learning methods achieved better performance than conventional statistical ones. This study applies decision tree which is a robust advanced credit risk model to predict the commercial non-financial past-due problem with better critical power and accuracy. In addition, we examine the performance with logistic regression analysis, decision trees, and neural networks. The experimenting results confirm that decision trees improve upon other methods. Also, we find some interesting factors that impact the commercials’ non-financial past-due payment.

Inflation Expectations In Singapore: A Behavioural Approach, Alexander Clark, Aurobindo Ghosh, Samuel Hanes

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The expectations of economic agents have significant impact on their decisions and are key determinants of macroeconomic outcomes such as inflation, economic growth and unemployment. For example, if a worker believes that consumer prices will rise sharply next year, she would demand a wage increase. Similarly, a homeowner with a fixed interest mortgage might make an early repayment if she expects price levels to fall, knowing that the real value of her mortgage debt will increase. In these cases, expectations about inflation could lead to changes in behaviour and in the aggregate, influence prices and become self-fulfilling.

Quantitative Easing Auctions Of Treasury Bonds, Zhaogang Song, Haoxiang Zhu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The Federal Reserve uses (reverse) auctions to implement its purchases of Treasury bonds in quantitative easing (QE). To evaluate dealers’ offers across multiple bonds, the Fed relies on its internal yield curve model, fitted to secondary market bond prices. From November 2010 to September 2011, a one standard deviation increase in the cheapness of a Treasury bond (how much the market price of the bond is below a model-implied value) increases the Fed’s purchase quantity of that bond by 276 million and increases the auction costs on that bond by 2.6 cents per $100 par value, controlling for standard covariates. …