This work covers a substantial mosaic of related concepts in utility theory as applied to financial decision-making. It reviews some of the classical notions of Benthamite utility and the normative utility paradigm offered by the von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility theory; exploring its major pitfalls before moving into what is postulated as an entropic notion of utility. Extrinsic utility is proposed as a cardinally measurable quantity; measurable in terms of the expected information content of a set of alternative choices. The entropic notion of utility is subsequently used to model the financial behavior of individual investors based on their governing risk-return preferences involving financial structured products manufactured out of complex, multi-asset options. Evolutionary superiority of the Black-Scholes function in dynamic hedging scenarios is computationally demonstrated using a haploid genetic algorithm model programmed in Borland C. The work explores, both theoretically and computationally, the psycho-cognitive factors governing the financial behavior of individual investors both in the presence as well as absence of downside risk and postulates the concepts of resolvable and irresolvable risk. A formal theorem of consistent preference is proposed and proved. The work also analyzes the utility of an endogenous capital guarantee built within a financial structured product. The aspect of investor empowerment is discussed in terms of how financial behavior of an investor may be transformed if he or she is allowed a choice of one or more assets that may gain entry into the financial structured product. Finally there is a concluding section wherein the different facets are placed in their proper perspective and a number of interesting future research directions are also proposed.

The issues of zakah and interest for IFIs have been highlighted for several years and attracted many arguments among Islamic scholars and public. The increasing public interest on the Islamic Banking since 1970s has been driven by the increasing sensitivity among Muslims to the relationship between religion and economic activities. With the emergence of IFIs, Muslims community has demanded for an establishment of an accounting body to develop a set of accounting standards that adhere to the Islamic tenets, hence AAOIFI was established. However, the journey of AAOFI in achieving such objective has not been smooth. This paper intended to study the effectiveness of AAOIFI in dealing with the issues of zakah and riba for IFIs by examining the disclosure practice of 25 IFIs worldwide. Based on the analysis conducted, it is concluded that the extents of disclosure by the IFIs are much lower than the AAOIFI requirements. The study also found that leverage and origin factors might contribute to the level disclosures of zakah and financial products. In addition, the test performed also revealed that the adopters of AAOIFI do provide more disclosure as compared to the non-adopters. However, the mean result is relatively low to suggest full compliance with the AAOIFI standards.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Economics

The objective of this paper is to explain the variation in efficiency of credit unions over the past decade. This study creates an evaluation metric for credit union performance by using a nonparametric technique called data envelopment analysis (DEA). Efficiency is based on the credit unions ability to maximize the members’ benefits by providing adequate loans and savings accounts at low prices while minimizing the resources used. The sample consists of 704 credit unions from 2001 to 2010. Several environmental characteristics were found to influence efficiency. The findings demonstrate evidence for economies of scale as number of members, average savings size, and total assets all positively influence efficiency. The results also indicate that federal charter, number of branches, share of real estate loans, and average loan size negatively correlate with efficiency.

The Taiwan banking industry is over banking. Therefore, it needs to expand overseas market to solve the dilemma. Taiwan government signed MOU and ECFA in 2009. Taiwan banks increase advantages to enter China banking industry. Recently, China banking industry is actively establishment of Country Bank. The purpose of thesis is whether Taiwan banks into Country Bank have any changes or niche. Therefore, this study is to investigate why and how foreign banks want to invest Country Bank. This paper selects good performance in the Chinese market as benchmark bank. HSBC is the benchmark bank. I study Country Bank of HSBC to find it how to strategy and management. Finally, I use Case Study to find some ways to inspire Taiwan banks. One Country Bank invested about 40 million RMB. If establishes more than ten Country Banks can use The Banks Management System. The Position is service rural areas. And the products need to innovate and satisfy rural demand.

Univ., Diss.--Passau, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

The audit firms play an important role in the capital markets by verifying that auditors provide reliable information to the decision makers. However, trust in auditing firms has been questioned following Enron‘s failure and accounting scandals at WorldCom and other companies. As a result, Arthur Anderson failed and the number of big audit firms fell to four firms and no one knows who might be next. Defond and Francis (2005) believe that a critical trigger occurred when Deloitte & Touch issued a “clean” peer review report on Arthur Andersen in December 2001, just a few weeks before Andersen publicly announced that it had shredded documents related to Enron audit. The credibility and integrity of the profession‘s self-regulation program was immediately in doubt. To protect public interests and to restore confidence in the capital markets, the USA government issued the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002. Similarly, the Financial Reporting Council in the UK provided the Professional Oversight Board with similar mission. This thesis aims to explore the role of independent audit regulators in promoting confidence in the audit profession, and analyse the big four firms’ strategies that react toward these regulatory changes in the audit markets. The lack of studies in this area supports the use of grounded theory as a research methodology. 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the top management level of the audit regulators and big four firms’ partners. This study contributes to the literature as it provides a better understanding of the satisfaction of the big four audit firms toward the new independent regulators, and how these firms react toward the additional requirements of the independent inspectors.

D.Tech. Organisational Leadership. Business School.

Historically, due to the policy of Apartheid, the South African labour market was beset with inequality in access to education, skills, managerial and professional work. Labour practices were based on race and ethnicity instead of talent, creativity and endeavour. Today, most major organisations in South Africa are staking their future growth on equity in the workplace. With the introduction of the Employment Equity Act (No. 55 of 1998), employers have a responsibility to take proactive steps in eliminating unfair discrimination and to promote equity in the workplace, especially with regard to people from the previously disadvantaged groups, namely Africa, Indian and Coloured people, women and the disabled. The objective of this research is to critically evaluate how South African Financial Institutions have progressed in creating an employment structure based on equal opportunity and non-discrimination. This will be done using the ABSA Groups employment equity strategy as a case study. Employment Equity in South African organisations has become essential. The business community at large therefore faces a very realistic challenge in order to initiate appropriate strategic moves and accelerate the much-needed impetus for change. Organisations will have to identify and eliminate unfair and discriminatory policies and practices so as to comply with the Employment Equity Act. As difficult as this may be, it is crucial that organisations comply with the Act or else heavy penalties will be imposed for their transgressions. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The bank provides financial services to individuals and businesses. These services include opening bank accounts, providing loans, and vehicle asset financing. To provide clients with a comprehensive financial offering, products from life insurance companies have been introduced to the banking environment. These products include risk products (life, dread disease and disability products), and investment products (unit trusts and endowment products). Analysis of sales figures by insurance companies suggest that more investment products are sold than risk products. This study explores the reasons for the inconsistent product mix sold by the bancassurance distribution channel. The study focuses on Standard Bank financial advisors in the greater Durban area and includes their views, and those of the related broker consultants and managers, of the salient issues. A comprehensive literature review provides a background to the study. A number of reasons for the phenomenon investigated here have been provided by various writers internationally, and these constitute the point of departure for the study. The broad themes that impact on the product mix sold are identified as being the need to comply with the relevant legislation, training and product knowledge, integration with the bank, and business processes. Based on the themes mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the main objectives of the study were the following: to assess the impact of regulation on the business of the advisor; to investigate the impact of training and product knowledge on the product mix offered to the client; to explore the relationship between the advisor and the bank he finds himself in; to assess business processes in the sale of insurance products. The fieldwork was exploratory in nature with a questionnaire being administered to financial advisors, broker consultants, and managers. The results of the study were evaluated and various recommendations are made. An implementation plan is provided to aid in the implementation process. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.