Finance and Financial Management Commons^™

Equity Fund Monthly Report, April 2024, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

The Landscape Of Gender Lens Investing In The United States And Performance Analysis, Sarah Monsini

Honors Projects in Finance

This study aims to analyze the performance of environmental, social, and governance mutual funds and ETFs, particularly those composed of companies that prioritize the gender diversity pillar of ESG. This method of investing, known as gender lens investing, involves selecting securities with a high social ESG score attributable to strong gender diversity throughout all levels of the company, or in this case, companies that an ETF or mutual fund is invested in. I expect to find that gender diverse ETFs and mutual funds perform better than their benchmarks, promoting the inclusion of policies that facilitate this aspect of ESG in …

Implementing Universal Design For Learning In Financial Literacy Education, Andreas Kotsironis

Honors Projects in Finance

The purpose of the study is to understand what students currently know regarding financial literacy, what learning style they use in the classroom, and how to fuse the two into a simple and informational version of financial literacy education. Financial literacy education can be used to increase household savings for retirement, personal financial goals, and risk management purposes. By joining the concept of UDL and Financial Literacy Education, each obstacle listed can be improved upon. Learning styles focus attention onto three different approaches to teaching that are based in auditory, visual, and kinesthetic pedagogies. UDL focuses on curating individual learning …

Import Penetration And Corporate Misconduct: A Natural Experiment, Christopher Dupuis

Honors Projects in Finance

Import penetration from China is largely exogenous to the U.S. product market. Using this natural experiment, we find that heightened China import penetration curbs corporate misconduct of U.S. firms. The effect is more pronounced for firms with weaker corporate governance and firms more vulnerable to product market competition. The findings suggest that when import penetration increases, firms may improve corporate governance, and differentiate themselves through product innovation or corporate social responsibility to cope with the competition. In addition, we address the exogeneity concern derived from the influence of China value penetration. Furthermore, we find that competition related policies such as …

Climate Change: An Existential Threat To Humanity, Brayden Asher Roy

Honors Projects in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

According to President Joe Biden, "Climate change is an existential threat to humanity" (Biden, 2020), one that requires the fullest attention from leaders within the international community. Research into the impacts of anthropogenic behavior on the climate began as early as the 1870s. When the clean energy movement generated support in the 1980s, fossil fuel companies responded to protect their existing business model that a transition to renewable energy would dismantle. Within the United States, through the suppression of information and lobbying of politicians, fossil fuel companies turned the concept of climate change into a partisan issue. Based on scientific …

How Spending Patterns Of Different Groups Affect Long And Short-Term Savings, Peter Misiaszek

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

Many young Americans are concerned whether they will have sufficient savings as they age. This paper will explore the factors that influence the spending habits of young Americans and how those patterns correlate to lifetime savings. There is a plethora of psychological and sociological factors that contribute to different patterns of spending which ultimately affect long-term savings. Savings rates have dropped significantly over the past few decades, and this decline is leaving many Americans without sufficient wealth for retirement. Data that will be collected will be used to run a regression model, ultimately to conclude what the most important factors …

Fixed Income Fund Report, April 2024, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Research On The Impact Of Tech Founders On Enterprise Innovation And Market Performance, Zhihao Xu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

In recent years, increased entrepreneurial projects have been spearheaded by scientists and technical experts. The likelihood of success for such entrepreneurship has garnered considerable attention.

Leveraging theories including upper echelons theory and attention-based view, this study develops an analytical framework, research hypotheses, and measurement models to examine the correlation between entrepreneurs’ technical backgrounds and enterprise performance. Use first-hand and second-hand data together constitute the core data sources. Utilizing a fixed effect regression analysis model, the study elucidates the correlation between the technical backgrounds of entrepreneurs and enterprise performance. Building upon empirical research, this study also selects entrepreneur cases of typical …

“Njangi Never Dies”: The Social Impacts And Non-Financial Benefits Of Njangis In Batoufam And Yaoundé, Cameroon, Georgia Schaefer-Brown

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Rotating Credits and Savings Associations (ROSCAs) are present in much of the developing world and are incredibly common in Cameroon. The financial impacts of ROSCAs have been researched extensively, but there has been less research on the social impacts and non-financial benefits. This research aims to fill this gap and add to the discussion of ROSCAs in Cameroon (called njangis), as well as demonstrate how njangis are social institutions. This project is in the specific context of njangis in Batoufam and Yaoundé, Cameroon. Interviews and observations informed the conclusion that there are extensive social impacts and non-financial benefits within the …

An Examination Of Income Elasticity Of Demand For American Professional Sports, Michael Hansen

Honors Theses

This study examines the economic factors of demand that affect Americans’ desire to purchase tickets for professional sporting events. Most notably, it illustrates how changing household disposable income affects demand for the quality and quantity of attendance to NBA, NFL, and MLB games. Utilizing the total annual attendance of every U.S.-based professional team in these three leagues over a nine-year period, as well as the cost of tickets and other attendance-related expenses (e.g., concession prices), we obtain the total income elasticity of demand. This study then breaks down income elasticity of demand into both its quantity and quality components through …

Active Equity Funds That Incorporate Venture Capital, Nohl Schwandtner

ALL - Honors Theses

In this paper, the performance of active equity funds that incorporate venture capital (VC) as part of their investment strategy is measured to gain insight into the value of VC use. Previous evidence suggests that VC investing requires a specialized skill set. PSN Enterprise data from 2000 to 2022 are analyzed to determine whether a sample of 24 active equity funds with VC investments obtain higher returns than non-VC funds despite their lack of experience in originating VC investments. Funds with VC investments are matched to corresponding funds without VC investments that are from the same asset class, have similar …

The Impact Of Environmental, Social And Governance (Esg) Practices On The Financial Performance Of Green Companies In Malaysia: An Empirical Analysis, Zaemah Zainuddin, Norazlina Abd. Wahab, Wahidah Shari, Muhamad Abrar Bahaman, Rosylin Mohd Yusof, Norzitah Abdul Karim

The Indonesian Capital Market Review

This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) perfor- mance and the financial performance of green companies in Malaysia. Analyzing 280 observations from 56 green companies listed in Bursa Malaysia from 2016 to 2020, the study employs rigorous regression analysis. The results indicate that ESG performance does not significantly influence the financial performance of these green companies. Instead, total sales and liability significantly impact both Return on Asset (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). These findings suggest that, despite the growing emphasis on ESG in the business sphere, other internal factors may have a more substantial effect …

The Impact Of Government Subsidies On Ev Manufacturers, Connor Quinton

Senior Honors Theses

Government subsidies play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the United States. This research delves into the relationship between government support and the financial performance of EV manufacturers. This research aims to examine financial statements and market data to analyze the impact of government subsidies and incentives influence the revenue of EV manufacturers to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic aspects of these policies on both individual companies and the EV sector as a whole. Beyond the financial aspects, this study will also address the ethical considerations associated with government support …

Siphoned Apart: A Portfolio Perspective On Order Flow Segmentation, Markus Baldauf, Joshua Mollner, Bart Zhou Yueshen

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We study liquidity supply in fragmented markets. Market makers intermediate heterogeneous order flows, trading off spread revenue against inventory costs. Applying our model to payment for order flow (PFOF), we demonstrate that portfolio-based considerations of inventory management incentivize market makers to segment retail orders by siphoning them off-exchange. Banning order flow segmentation reduces total welfare, can make trading more costly for all investors, and can resolve a prisoner's dilemma among market makers. These results differentiate our inventory-based model from the existing information-based theories of PFOF.

How Does The Pace Of Digital Transformation Affect Team Viability And Performance? — The Role Of Adaptive Response, Jing Tian

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The national strategy of “Digital China” implemented in 2021 has catalyzed efforts to bolster the digital ecosystem across industries. With pervasive claims of digital transformation and upgrading by nearly all enterprises, digital technology permeates various sectors. This study explores, from the perspective of working teams—the smallest unit within enterprise production organizations—how the pace of digital transformation influences team viability and performance. It investigates the transmission mechanism of this effect and identifies influencing factors.

Drawing from extant research on the impact of digital technology on organizations, trends in organizational change, and psychological research on team behavior, this study establishes a theoretical …

Research On Futures, Profit Hedging, And Enterprise Price Risk Management In The Bulk Commodity Industry Chain — A Case Study Of Hot-Rolled Coil Industry Chain, Shengxi Liu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Traditional hedging strategies usually center around a single product, commonly involving companies hedging against the price of their endproducts or essential production materials. At present, traditional hedgingstrategies are no longer sufficient to address the production and management requirements of physical enterprises. There is a need to develop hedgingstrategies aligning with the significant changes in both domestic andinternational markets.

The thesis presents a new profit hedging model based on product manufacturing processes within the industry chain. This method involves hedging production profits by buying (selling) end products and selling(buying) raw materials according to the proportional relationships in the production process on …

The Effects Of Perceived Cultural Conflicts On Employee Retention After Mergers And Acquisitions, Chengpeng Luan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

With China’s deepening medical reform, the state has introduced a series of regulatory policies, which has set off a frenzy of mergers and acquisitions in the medical device industry. Small and medium-sized device distribution companies with small scale and weak strength have closed. Large and powerful large medical device distribution enterprises seize the opportunity to expand mergers and acquisitions rapidly.

Based on the researcher's work experience and data availability, this paper takes an MNC company, M, acquisition of a high-quality local company, K, as the research object. Based on the actual operation of the medical device industry, combined with the …

The Relationship Between Medical Equipment Management Outsourcing And Performance, Sheng Bian

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Medical equipment, as a core component of a hospital’s fixed assets, provides essential support and assurance for the hospital to deliver medical services and enhance competitiveness. The operation of public hospitals in China is a top priority for deepening medical reforms. As hospitals transition from focusing on revenue to centering on costs, comprehensive management of medical equipment becomes a critical aspect of hospital operation management. In the scenario of utilizing the management service outsourcing mode for comprehensive management of medical equipment, equipment performance naturally becomes a topic of special interest in the industry.

Given this, this study aims to investigate …

Fringe Lending: The Case For A National Minimum Standard, Don Loos

Senior Honors Theses

In the American financial sector, the liberalization of usury laws and legal complexity has allowed for controversial fringe financial products to become widely available. Payday loans, car title loans, and short-term, high-interest installment loans, also referred to as fringe loans, have often been classified as “predatory” and unconscionable. The central question in this controversy is whether increased regulation of fringe loans, or their complete prohibition, is effective to protect consumers from a harmful cycle of debt, or whether regulation will cause more harm than good. Since state legislation is ineffective to limit the negative externalities associated with fringe loans, a …

Research On The Influence Mechanism Of Digitalization Degree On Manufacturing Enterprise Performance, Dandan Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The application of digital technologies has changed the operation model of traditional industries, and promoted the development of emerging industries. More and more manufacturing enterprises have started or completed digital transformation, and tried new ways of development.

With the advancement of digitalization, the influence of the degree of digitalization on high-quality economic development has attracted great attention from scholars at home and abroad. Although significant resources are put into digital transformation, which is deemed as a strategic core, the specific influence paths of the degree of digitalization on enterprise performance have not yet been fully explored. In the digital era, …

Efficiency And Sustainability Of Bond Market: Evidence From Aftermarket Trading Of Us Corporate Bond Offerings, Lisa (Zongfei) Yang, Choo Yong, Jeremy Goh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We find that for bond offerings that are non-self-marketed, there is a significantly larger proportion of institutional-sized sell trades than buy. In stark contrast, for self-marketed offerings by underwriters, immediate post-offer trading is characterized by a larger proportion of institutional-sized buy trades than sell. We also find evidence suggesting that retail investors, who are initially shut out of the offering deals, buy bonds in the secondary market at a higher price. Our evidence suggests that certain institutional investors receiving allocations of non-self-marketed offerings flip them for a quick profit. The systematic disparity in aftermarket trading immediately following self-marketed versus non-self-marketed …

Jump Diffusion Outperforms Geometric Brownian Motion When Forecasting Bric’S Daily Foreign Exchange Carry Trading Strategy Returns, Marc Kwait

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

This research will examine how the Jump Diffusion Model 1 (JDM) accurately outperforms Geometric Brownian Motion2 (GBM) when forecasting the Japanese Yen carry trade daily returns for the BRICs' and three bellwether currency pairs GBP/JPY, EUR/JPY, and PLN/JPY from January 2, 2012, to September 30, 2023. An added innovation within this research is the inclusion of the interest rate return in arriving at the daily cumulative carry trade returns. This is a distinctive and unique feature that offers a different perspective, since many journal articles do not discuss or address the interest earned (long position) component of the FX Carry …

Meme Stocks, Robinhood, And Wall Street: Retail Investors And Changing Market Dynamics, Nick Murray, Spencer Brosnan

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the rise of retail investors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they have changed the landscape of financial markets. We outline the full timeline of the GME and AMC social media craze that exemplified the power of retail investors in the market and investigate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on this group. Through the use of VandaTrack, a software that tracks retail investors’ trading activity, we were able to quantify the impact that retail investors have on US equities and ETFs and compare them to the market as a whole. We utilized this …

Why Did Retail Liquidity Programs Fail?, Thomas Ernst, Chester Spatt, Jian Sun

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Five U.S. exchanges have Retail Liquidity Programs, which operate a limit order book only accessible to market orders from retail traders. In theory, this allows competition for segmented retail order flow. In practice, volumes executed in RLPs have been very low, and obtain prices inferior to those offered by off-exchange wholesalers. We trace this failure to three distinct issues: (1) cream-skimming by wholesalers, so that ``retail'' trades in RLPs carry high adverse selection risk, (2) an inability by RLPs to display quotes without pre-trade transparency of available prices, and (3) a lack of trade-through protection, with wholesalers executing trades at …

Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg) And Artificial Intelligence In Finance: State-Of-The-Art And Research Takeaways, Tristan Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The rapidly growing research landscape in finance, encompassing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics and associated Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, presents challenges for both new researchers and seasoned practitioners. This study aims to systematically map the research area, identify knowledge gaps, and examine potential research areas for researchers and practitioners. The investigation focuses on three primary research questions: the main research themes concerning ESG and AI in finance, the evolution of research intensity and interest in these areas, and the application and evolution of AI techniques specifically in research studies within the ESG and AI in finance domain. Eight archetypical …

Does Momentum Matter? Modeling Stock Returns Through Fama-French And Carhart Model For Pakistan Stock Exchange, Mirza Osama Bin Shahid, Abdurrahman Aleemi, Muhammad Asadullah

Business Review

Asset pricing models are widely applied for explaining variations in stock returns. The applicability of these models is tested on different markets for assessing different stock price anomalies. In this paper, Fama and French three-factor model and Carhart Model were applied to the KSE-100 Index, over the period of 2004 to 2019. Following the FF 3 factor methodology, we create a relatively large number of portfolios based on size, value, and momentum, whereas the existence of the momentum factor was checked through the Carhart model. The results indicate that, out of 25 portfolios, 15 were able to explain the variations …

[Discussions] Vol. 19 Iss. 1

Discussions

This issue of Discussions was published for the Spring 2023 cycle.

U.S. Public Equity Esg Fund Composite And Parnassus Core Equity Fund: Performance And Factor Attribution, Karthik Nemani, Barrett Buhler

Discussions

This is the first paper to examine all U.S. public equity Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds offered by the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment’s (SIF) institutional member firms from 2005 to 2020. For ease of communication, this will be called the ESG Composite. With a Net Asset Value (NAV) over $150 billion, these funds comprise nearly half of the U.S. public equity ESG investment landscape. The article finds that the ESG Composite maintains performance with the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) 500 total return index on an overall returns basis with lower volatility, indicating greater risk-adjusted returns. Factor analysis …

Historical Perspectives In Volatility Forecasting Methods With Machine Learning, Zhiang Qiu, Clemens Kownatzki, Fabien Scalzo, Eun Sang Cha

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Volatility forecasting in the financial market plays a pivotal role across a spectrum of disciplines, such as risk management, option pricing, and market making. However, volatility forecasting is challenging because volatility can only be estimated, and different factors influence volatility, ranging from macroeconomic indicators to investor sentiments. While recent works suggest advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence for volatility forecasting, a comprehensive benchmark of current statistical and learning-based methods for such purposes is lacking. Thus, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey of the historical evolution of volatility forecasting with a comparative benchmark of key landmark models. We …

Channeling The Capital Of Others: How Luxembourg Came To Be Asset Managers’ "Plumber" Of Choice, Samuel Weeks

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

This article analyzes the development and growth of the administrative practices and structures necessary for leading asset-management companies and other firms to create and sell their “product” of choice: investment funds. To investigate this problematic, I turn to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which currently serves as the domicile for over $5 trillion in fund assets. Indeed, since the 1980s, Luxembourg’s “offshore” financial center has become a leader in providing the “plumbing,” to quote an interviewee of mine, for worldwide asset-manager capitalism. On offer in Luxembourg to asset managers are the routine-but-essential tasks such as domiciliation, compliance, calculation of net-asset …