Finance and Financial Management Commons^™

Strategic Asset Allocation For Individual Investors: The Impact Of The Present Value Of Social Security Benefits, Steve Fraser, William Jennings, David King

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This paper demonstrates the dramatic effect of social security wealth on individuals’ asset allocation. We first discuss why social security wealth should be included in portfolio asset-mix decisions. We then draw parallels between social security benefits and inflation-indexed treasury bonds to help quantify the present value of social security benefits. Finally, we show the portfolio impact of including social security wealth under several asset-mix decision rules. Excluding social security wealth from the asset mix decision results in sub-optimal portfolios. Including social security wealth provides an incentive for including more stock in the asset mix.

International Portfolio Diversification With Special Reference To Emerging Markets, Joseline Chimhini

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study evaluates the potential benefits that investors obtain from diversifying their portfolios into emerging markets when the time varying behavior of assets is considered. It also tests whether the existing asset-pricing model developed in the context of developed markets, which assumes complete integration, can explain the expected returns in emerging markets and determines the risk of investing in these markets using cross section and time series data. An international capital asset pricing model (ICAPM) with time varying moments developed by Harvey (1991) is adopted. The conditional asset-pricing model, which takes into account prevailing world economic factors, was used. The …

Financial Intermediation And Economic Performance In Zimbabwe, Gift Chirozva

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Financial literature is replete with theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting financial development has a causal effect on economic growth. Yet there is no consensus on the finance-growth nexus. The direction of causality is still controversial In fact, classical economists argue that financial factors are neutral and hence cannot have real effects. Critics argue the traditional methods of identifying long run economic relationships fail to address the methodological conflict between equilibrium implied by theory and the disequilibria in the data. The rise of new representation techniques such as the General Methods of Moments (GMM) and vector autoregression [VAR] brought with them …

Mekanisme Al-Murabahah Dan Al-Bay Bi-Thaman Ajil Dalam Sistem Pembiayaan Di Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (Bimb), Mazran Mohd. Nazim

Student Works (2000-2009)

This dissertation will discuss the mechanisme of interest-free financing applied in the famous islamic financial institution in Malaysia, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB). The two important mechanisme discussed are al-murabahah and al-bay bi-thaman ajil. The discussion will comprise the whole concept of the mechanisme fr.om the Islamic perspective and their application in the operation of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB).

Comparison Of Some Technical Indicators In The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Gin Hoe Lim

Student Works (2000-2009)

Technical analysis is both highly controversial and widely used; some practitioners claim that it is profitable. They say that historical technical figures, such as the past behaviour of the stock's price, give them foresight into future price movements. Many others, however, claim that the practice of looking at past technical data to help predict the future is outlandish and most academics fall into this group. More and more writers are beginning to question whether technical analysis may serve as one tool available to those who want to trade profitably in the market. And this is the reason for this project …

Sun Trust Endowment Portfolio Management 2001, Yan Liu, Alex Gonzalez, Edward De Nijs

Crummer Truist Portfolios

No abstract provided.

The Structure Of Debt And Active Equity Investors: The Case Of The Buyout Specialist, James F. Cotter, Sarah Peck

Finance Faculty Research and Publications

This paper examines the role buyout specialists play in structuring the debt used to finance the LBO and in monitoring management in the post-LBO firm. We find that when buyout specialists control the majority of the post-LBO equity, the LBO transaction is likely to be financed with less short-term and/or senior debt and less likely to experience financial distress. We also find that buyout specialists have greater board representation on smaller boards, suggesting that they actively monitor managers, and that for these transactions, using debt with tighter terms does not significantly increase the firm's performance. In contrast, in all other …

Effectiveness And Efficiency Of Investment Strategies: A Simulation Model, Ellen Denise Bruno Ramsey

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This dissertation, through an historical study, attempts to give the reader a clear depiction of different types of investment strategies. The four diverse investment strategies, as compared to the Optimal Strategy, were tested from December 1, 1997, through January 30, 2001 Three years of daily closing price data was obtained and utilized within a simulated model. Ten stocks, from ten diverse sectors, listed on the S&P 500 as well as the National Association of Investment Clubs (NAIC) 1999 Individual Investor's Top 100 Index, were analyzed and evaluated for each investment strategy over the duration of the study. By using Standard …

2001-2002 Proposed Budget, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Proposed budget prepared by Aaron Spencer.

The Implementation Of Strategic Planning In Irish Hotel Groups., Frances Alexandra Keys

Masters

The primary objective of this research was to examine the relative importance and success of forty factors over the past five years (1994-1999) that have facilitated and/or impeded the implementation of strategic plans within Irish hotel groups. This research studied twenty-four hotel groups, which consisted of ninety-five strategic business units. An extensive review of strategic management literature by theorists such as Andrews(1971); Ansoff (1990); Chandler (1962); Cole (1997); Day (1984); Drucker (1969); Greenley (1986, 1989); Gupta (1986); Hayes (1985); Hofer (1973, 1976); Mintzberg (1978, 1987, 1990, 1994); Ohmae (1988); Porter (1980, 1985, 1991); Schaffer (1984); Schendel and Hatten (1972); Thompson …

Streamlining The Regulatory Procedures For Small And Medium Enterprises, Manal Hussein

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Sensitivity Analysis Of The Premiums For A Permanent Health Insurance (Phi) Model, Ben D. Rickayzen

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper presents an analysis of the parameters used in a multi-state model for permanent health insurance (PHI). The model is a simplification of that used in the United Kingdom. To avoid using duration dependent probabilities, the model splits the sick state into several sub-states to act as a proxy for duration spent in a particular state. This enables a Markov approach to be adopted. Lapses are incorporated within the model, and the net premium for a particular policy is tested for sensitivity to the various parameters used, including their interaction with the lapse rate. One of our conclusions is …

Fitting Loss Distributions In The Presence Of Rating Variables, Farrokh Guiahi

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper focuses on issues and methodologies for fitting alternative statistical models-parametric probability distributions-to samples of insurance loss data. The interactions of loss distributions, deductibles, policy limits, and rating variables in the context of fitting distributions to losses are discussed. Fitted loss distributions serve an important function in pricing insurance products. The methodology developed in this paper is applied to a sample of insurance loss data that has the lognormal as the underlying loss distribution.

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 9 (2001), Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

(The complete issue, including) ARTICLES

Analyzing Management Fees of Pension Funds: A Case Study of Mexico • Tapen Sinha 5

Premium Earning Patterns for Multi-Year Policies with Aggregate Deductibles • Thomas Struppeck 45

Exponential Bonus-Malus Systems Integrating A Priori Risk Classification • Lluis Benmidez, Michel Denuit, and Jan Dhaene 67

Fitting Loss Distributions in the Presence of Rating Variables • Farrokh Guiahi 97

Linear Empirical Bayes Estimation of Survival Probabilities with Partial Data • Mostafa Mashayekhi 131

Controlling the Solvency Interaction Among a Group of Insurance Companies • Alexandros Zimbidis and Steven Haberman 151

A Sensitivity Analysis of the Premiums …

Empirical Tests Of The Fundamental-Value Hypothesis In Land Markets, Angeline M. Lavin, Thomas S. Zorn

Department of Finance: Faculty Publications

The land-price boom of the 1970s followed by the bust of the 1980s generated considerable interest in the determination of land prices and the study of whether those prices reflect fundamental value. In this article, three techniques are used to examine the fundamental- value hypothesis in Iowa and Nebraska agricultural land markets. Duration dependence tests indicate that land markets are not affected by rational expectations bubbles. Conversely, Markov chain and time-reversibility tests suggest that land prices depart from fundamental value due to the existence of nonrandom price changes and asymmetric land price patterns. The results of this research should be …

Investigating The Effect Of The International Stock Indexes On The United States Stock Index Futures, Zehlha Illhan Ertuna

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The futures market is used extensively for price discovery, arbitrage, and hedging. Since their introduction in the 1980's, the stock index futures have also become an active market and a very important research area. Any additional knowledge to understand the underlying effects on the index will help both investors and researchers. In this study, I examine the role of informational flow from the world's major stock markets (British, French, German, Japanese) to the U.S. futures market in terms of forming expectations, and offer new insights regarding the informational efficiency of the futures markets in an intenational perspective. State space modeling …

Pricing Options Using Implied Trees, Kian Guan Lim, Da Zhi

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

No abstract provided.

The Bullet Gic As An Example, David F. Babbel, Jeremy Gold, Craig B. Merrill

Faculty Publications

There has been considerable discussion of a variety of issues related to fair value in the actuarial literature, in conferences, and among individuals interested in this topic. Unfortunately, we seem to be failing to communicate due, in part, to inconsistent use of terminology. The goal of this discussion paper is to present a few concepts that we hope will be of use in the broader discussion of fair value of liabilities.

An Empirical Examination Of Sba Guaranteed Loans: Rates, Collateral, Agency Costs, And The Time To Obtain The Loan, James C. Brau, Jerome S. Osteryoung

Faculty Publications

We empirically examine a sample of over 350 entrepreneurial firms that successfully receive an SBA guaranteed loan. The first portion of the paper contains descriptive statistics that lend anecdotal evidence concerning the organization type of borrowers, the incidence of collateral, the reasons for choosing the financial institution in which the SBA loan is secured, the main purpose for the SBA loan, and alternative actions that would have been undertaken had the SBA guaranteed loan not been obtained. The second portion of the paper poses theoretical predictions and tests them via multivariate models. Issues that are considered include the number of …

The Determinants Of Successful Micro-Ipos: An Analysis Of Issues Made Under The Small Corporate Offering Registration (Scor) Procedure, James C. Brau, Jerome S. Osteryoung

Faculty Publications

In this article we extend the existing IPO literature to the case of micro-IPOs by analyzing a sample of Small Corporate Offering Registration (SCOR) documents from the U.S. state ofWashington. Through theory, we identified variables that should impact the probability of success or failure in a SCOR offering and then empirically tested them. Empirical support was found for the relevance of (1) marketing mechanisms and expenses; (2) ownership and governance factors; (3) business life cycle stages; and (4) signaling factors consistent with our theoretical predictions.

Good Day Sunshine: Stock Returns And The Weather, David Hirshleifer, Tyler Shumway

Faculty Publications

Psychological evidence and casual intuition predict that sunny weather is associated with upbeat mood. This paper examines the relationship between morning sunshine in the city of a country's leading stock exchange and daily market index returns across 26 countries from 1982 to 1997. Sunshine is strongly significantly correlated with stock returns. After controlling for sunshine, rain and snow are unrelated to returns. Substantial use of weatherbased strategies was optimal for a trader with very low transactions costs. However, because these strategies involve frequent trades, fairly modest costs eliminate the gains. These findings are difficult to reconcile with fully rational price …

Do Behavioral Biases Affect Prices?, Joshua D. Coval, Tyler Shumway

Faculty Publications

This paper documents strong evidence of behavioral biases among Chicago Board of Trade proprietary traders and investigates the effect these biases have on prices. Our traders appear highly loss-averse. Traders who experience morning losses are about 16 percent more likely to assume above-average afternoon risk than traders with morning gains. This behavior has important short-term consequences for afternoon prices, as losing traders are prepared to purchase contracts at higher prices and sell contracts at lower prices than those that prevailed previously. However, during the ten minutes that follow these trades, prices revert strongly to their earlier levels. Consistent with these …