Value investing as a strategy has a well-established history and has undergone extensive testing and studies within financial economics. Through the use of the strategy, studies and investors have demonstrated a positive return, where in many cases it has managed to generate excess returns compared to the market. The problem arises from the fact that the strategy should not be able to consistently generate excess returns compared to the market as it is not supported by the efficient market hypothesis (EMH). The purpose of the study is to investigate whether value investing as a strategy succeeds in generating excess returns on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The method is based on a screening process, followed by a ranking system inspired by Joel Greenblatt’s value investment strategy "The Magic Formula". The method aims to systematically identify undervalued stocks based on the combination of two key ratios. Based on the applied method, two fictional portfolios were created with 15 stocks in each, based on value investing as a strategy. Historical data between 2013-2023 was collected to create the portfolios, with restructuring taking place each year based on set criteria. During this period, one of the portfolios showed a total return of 284.49%, which was an excess return compared to all benchmark indices in the study. The observed excess return suggests market inefficiency, where there may be opportunities for investors to identify and take advantage of undervalued stocks in the market. However, this excess return was not statistically significant when adjusted for risk, which in turn supports the EMH. Despite the strategy's success in generating excess returns compared to the market, it is therefore difficult to determine the level of efficiency at which the Swedish market has operated during the investigated period.

This research examines at the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in two state commercial banks and few other financial institutions that are listed on the CSE in Sri Lanka. The independent variable in this analysis is CSR expenditure, whereas the dependent variable is financial performance. Market- and accounting-based performance metrics (ROA, ROE and EPS) are used to assess the financial performance of the financial institutions. The study's control variables were firm age, firm size, and GDP growth rate. For a duration of Eight years, the researchers gathered secondary data on the financial institutions from 2015 to 2022 by using audited annual reports, which included 13 financial institutions as a sample. The study findings reveal that CSR has a statistically significant impact on financial performance. The correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between CSR expenditure and ROA, ROE, and EPS. The correlation coefficient showed that all of the suggested hypotheses were significant and acceptable. The findings from the regression analysis revealed that CSR expenditure has an impact on the financial institution's ROA, ROE, and EPS. The results and implications can assist Sri Lankan financial institutions in designing their CSR projects to maximize value for the organization, resulting in a win-win situation. In addition, investing in CSR as a non-profit endeavor might help financial institutions meet their social responsibility obligations while also enhancing future intangible revenues and preparing them for market competitiveness. In contrast, CSR investments may improve community development, diversity promotion, and quality of life while treating social challenges including poverty, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Economics / Lance J. Bachmeier / Dong Li / For a unique sample of Israeli stocks that went public in the U.S. and then cross-listed in the home market, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), this dissertation consists of three essays examining the dynamics of return spillovers and volume-return interactions across markets and the valuation effect around the event of cross-listing and delisting from the home market. In Chapter II, I investigate the role of trading volume in the information flow and return spillovers between the U.S. and Israeli markets. Findings suggest that the dynamics of volume-return interactions across markets can provide us with valuable information regarding future price movements, which can be a useful tool to predict future returns. I also find the home market to dominate the host market in pricing these stocks, which is consistent with the Home Bias hypothesis. In Chapter III, I analyze the impact of the event of cross-listing on stock returns and risk exposure. The behavior of abnormal returns around the cross-listing date implies that cross-listing in TASE is an effective mechanism in reducing market segmentation between the U.S. and the Israeli capital markets. Risk assessment following the cross-listing suggests a decline firms’ overall risk exposure, indicating a higher degree of integration between the two markets due to cross-listing. In Chapter IV, I evaluate changes in the cost-of-capital for Israeli firms after delisting voluntary from TASE, the home market, while maintaining their listing in the U.S., the host market. The results show a significant positive shift in U.S. and negative shift in Israeli market risk exposure after the delisting. These results indicate that firms delisting form their home market (TASE), face greater risk exposure, higher required returns on their stocks and, hence, higher cost-of-capital after delisting.

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the level of tertiary education has a positive and significant impact on the level of income received. This study will focus on determining whether each subsequent level of tertiary education causes an increase in the likelihood of earning a higher wage, by using a multinomial logistic regression model as well as cross-tabulation estimates. This study will also make use of two different data samples, where the first sample is sourced from the National Income Dynamics Study's, 2010-2011, adult wave 2 dataset, and the second sample is sourced from a questionnaire distributed to the North-West University's School of Economics alumni from the Potchefstroom campus. Literature indicates that there is a significant relationship between an individual's income and variables such as gender, age, marital status, population group, occupation, sector or industry, years of work experience, location of employment, tenure, union membership, and, most importantly, education. Determining the effect of these variables on the income of tertiary educated individuals, will assist current and future graduates by providing relevant South African labour market information as well as providing some assistance in decisions which may result in higher future earnings. From the NIDS data set, it was found that the level of tertiary education was significantly associated with income, and that higher levels of tertiary education were associated with higher income categories, while lower levels of tertiary education were associated with lower income categories. From the Alumni data set it was concluded that the level of tertiary education was not significantly associated with income, which could be the result of the graduation period (2009-2012) of the sample individuals. It was also found that married individuals were more likely to have earnings within the higher income categories, while the same result was obtained for males as well as for those individuals who were employed in the Gauteng province. It was also found that those individuals with an honours degree had earnings within the low income categories, similar to those individuals with a bachelor's degree. The main factors considered to influence the income of an individual with a tertiary qualification is gender, age, marital status, occupation, and the level of tertiary education. / MCom (Economics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Investors make investment decisions based on their risk appetite. Furthermore, when such investors consider shares as part of their investment portfolio, these investors will consider the risk profile of the company it is interested in. By taking on a certain level of risk, shareholders expect to be commensurately compensated. Shareholders of companies with relatively higher debt levels in their capital structure and therefore higher financial risk, require a relatively higher return on their investment in order to compensate for such additional risk taken. Shareholders expect return in the form of dividend pay-outs, and capital growth in the share price. A positive correlation is therefore expected between the debt levels of a company and the total return to their shareholders, i.e. the sum of the dividend pay-outs and the capital growth in the share price, also referred to as total shareholder return (TSR). The focus of this study is on the platinum industry in South Africa, as this industry is vital to the South African economy in terms of job creation and earner of foreign exchange as South Africa dominates the world production of platinum. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the debt levels and the total shareholder return (TSR) of platinum companies listed on the JSE Ltd. Quantitative research techniques were used to address the research problem, making use of secondary data and rank correlation-based research. Firstly, the debt-to-equity ratio for each company was calculated based on book values. Secondly, the TSR of each company was calculated considering the dividends received and capital growth in share price. The correlation between the TSR and the debt-to-equity ratio was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The results were inconclusive, i.e. no, negative and positive relationships where the relationship is for the first 12 years not significant and for the last two years significant. Therefore the final conclusion is that this study is inconclusive to support or to reject the conceptual scope of the study in that risk is concomitant to return, i.e. returns compensate for risks, therefore higher debt levels require higher total shareholder returns (and vice versa). This study contributes to the literature on capital structure decisions from a South African platinum company perspective. The core audience will be the management of South African platinum companies considering changes in their capital structure as well as investors considering investing into a listed platinum company. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the level of tertiary education has a positive and significant impact on the level of income received. This study will focus on determining whether each subsequent level of tertiary education causes an increase in the likelihood of earning a higher wage, by using a multinomial logistic regression model as well as cross-tabulation estimates. This study will also make use of two different data samples, where the first sample is sourced from the National Income Dynamics Study's, 2010-2011, adult wave 2 dataset, and the second sample is sourced from a questionnaire distributed to the North-West University's School of Economics alumni from the Potchefstroom campus. Literature indicates that there is a significant relationship between an individual's income and variables such as gender, age, marital status, population group, occupation, sector or industry, years of work experience, location of employment, tenure, union membership, and, most importantly, education. Determining the effect of these variables on the income of tertiary educated individuals, will assist current and future graduates by providing relevant South African labour market information as well as providing some assistance in decisions which may result in higher future earnings. From the NIDS data set, it was found that the level of tertiary education was significantly associated with income, and that higher levels of tertiary education were associated with higher income categories, while lower levels of tertiary education were associated with lower income categories. From the Alumni data set it was concluded that the level of tertiary education was not significantly associated with income, which could be the result of the graduation period (2009-2012) of the sample individuals. It was also found that married individuals were more likely to have earnings within the higher income categories, while the same result was obtained for males as well as for those individuals who were employed in the Gauteng province. It was also found that those individuals with an honours degree had earnings within the low income categories, similar to those individuals with a bachelor's degree. The main factors considered to influence the income of an individual with a tertiary qualification is gender, age, marital status, occupation, and the level of tertiary education. / MCom (Economics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Investors make investment decisions based on their risk appetite. Furthermore, when such investors consider shares as part of their investment portfolio, these investors will consider the risk profile of the company it is interested in. By taking on a certain level of risk, shareholders expect to be commensurately compensated. Shareholders of companies with relatively higher debt levels in their capital structure and therefore higher financial risk, require a relatively higher return on their investment in order to compensate for such additional risk taken. Shareholders expect return in the form of dividend pay-outs, and capital growth in the share price. A positive correlation is therefore expected between the debt levels of a company and the total return to their shareholders, i.e. the sum of the dividend pay-outs and the capital growth in the share price, also referred to as total shareholder return (TSR). The focus of this study is on the platinum industry in South Africa, as this industry is vital to the South African economy in terms of job creation and earner of foreign exchange as South Africa dominates the world production of platinum. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the debt levels and the total shareholder return (TSR) of platinum companies listed on the JSE Ltd. Quantitative research techniques were used to address the research problem, making use of secondary data and rank correlation-based research. Firstly, the debt-to-equity ratio for each company was calculated based on book values. Secondly, the TSR of each company was calculated considering the dividends received and capital growth in share price. The correlation between the TSR and the debt-to-equity ratio was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The results were inconclusive, i.e. no, negative and positive relationships where the relationship is for the first 12 years not significant and for the last two years significant. Therefore the final conclusion is that this study is inconclusive to support or to reject the conceptual scope of the study in that risk is concomitant to return, i.e. returns compensate for risks, therefore higher debt levels require higher total shareholder returns (and vice versa). This study contributes to the literature on capital structure decisions from a South African platinum company perspective. The core audience will be the management of South African platinum companies considering changes in their capital structure as well as investors considering investing into a listed platinum company. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Remanufacturing is an important product recovery option that benefits our sustainable development. Cores, i.e. the used products/parts, are essential resources for remanufacturing. Without cores, there will not be any remanufactured products. Challenges in the core acquisition process are mainly caused by the uncertainties of: return volume, timing and core quality. Core Acquisition Management actively attempts to reduce these uncertainties and achieve a better balance of demand and return for the remanufacturers. The aim of this dissertation is to extend the knowledge of Core Acquisition Management in remanufacturing, by investigating the current status of research and industrial practice, and developing quantitative models that assist the decision making in the core acquisition process. In the dissertation, a literature review is firstly conducted to provide an overview about the current research in Core Acquisition Management. Possible further research interests, for example, more studies based on non-hybrid remanufacturing systems and imperfect substitution assumption are suggested. Through an industrial survey carried out in a fast developing remanufacturing market - China, environmental responsibility and ethical  concerns, customer orientation and strategic advantage are identified as the most important motives for the remanufacturers, while customer recognition is their most serious barrier at present. Suggestions for further improving the Chinese remanufacturing industry from the policy-makers’ perspective are provided. After the above investigation, mathematical models are then developed to assist the acquisition decisions in two aspects: to deal with the uncertainties of return volume and timing, and to deal with the uncertainties of core quality. Acquisition decision about volume and timing is firstly studied from a product life cycle perspective, where the demands for remanufactured products and the core availability change over time. According to industrial observations, the remanufacturing cost decreases with respect to its core inventory. Using optimal control theory, core acquisition and remanufacturing decisions are derived to maximize the remanufacturer's profit. It is found that besides a simple bang-bang type control policy (either collecting as much as possible, or nothing), a special form of synchronizing policy (adjusting the core collection rate with demand rate) also exists. Furthermore, the acquisition decision depends greatly on the valuation of cores, and Real Option Valuation approaches are later used to capture the value of flexibility provided by owning cores when different aspects of remanufacturing environment are random. More specifically, the value of disposing a core earlier is investigated when the price of remanufactured product is uncertain, and the impact of the correlation between stochastic demand and return is also studied. To deal with the uncertainties of core quality, refund policies with different numbers of quality classes are studied. Under the assumption of uniformly distributed quality, analytical solutions for these refund policies are derived. Numerical examples indicate that the customers’ valuation of cores is an important factor influencing the return rates and the remanufacturer’s profit. Refund policies with a small number of quality classes could already bring major advantages. Credit refund policies (without deposits) are included for comparisons. In addition, within a game theory framework, the trade-off of two types of errors of the quality inspection in a deposit-refund policy is studied. The salvage values of different cores show great influences on the remanufacturer’s policy choices. The value of information transparency about the inspection errors are studied under different conditions. Interestingly, the customer may actually return more low quality cores when the inspection accuracy is improved.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This paper will present the results of some experiments with non-coherent, single symbol detection of pulse code modulation (PCM)/frequency modulation (FM) where the receiver intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth is much wider than the bit rate. The experiments involved varying the peak deviation and measuring the bit error probability (BEP) at various signal energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratios (E(b)/N(o)). The experiments showed that the optimum peak-to-peak deviation was about 0.7 to 0.8 times the –3 dB IF bandwidth and that the E(b)/N(o) required for a given BEP increased as the ratio of IF bandwidth to bit rate increased. Further, bi-phase-level/FM performed slightly better than non-return-to-zero-level (NRZ-L)/FM with an ac coupled RF signal generator and IF bandwidths much wider than the bit rate.

With few previous data and literature based on the South African banking sector, the key aim of this study was to contribute further results concerning the effect of operational loss events on the reputation of South African banks. The main distinction between this study and previous empirical research is that a small sample of South African banks listed on the JSE, between 2000 and 2014 was used. Insurance companies fell outside the scope of the study. The study primarily focused on identifying reputational risk among Regal Treasury Bank, Saambou Bank, African Bank and Standard Bank. The events announced by these banks occurred between 2000 and 2014. The precise date of the announcement of the operational events was also determined. Stock price data were collected for those banks that had unanticipated operational loss announcements (i.e. the event). Microsoft Excel models applied to the reputational loss as the difference between the operational loss announcement and the loss in the stock returns of the selected banks. The results indicated significant negative abnormal returns on the announcement day for three of the four banks. For one of the banks it was assumed that the operational loss was not significant enough to cause reputational risk. The event methodology similar to previous literature, furthermore examined the behaviour of return volatility after specific operational loss events using the sample of banks. The study further aimed at making two contributions. Firstly, to analyse return volatility after operational loss announcements had been made among South African banks, and secondly, to compare the sample of affected banks with un-affected banks to further identify whether these events spilled over into the banking industry and the market. The volatility of these four banks were compared to three un-affected South African banks. The results found that the operational loss events for Regal Treasury Bank and Saambou Bank had no influence on the unaffected banks. However the operational loss events for African Bank and Standard Bank influenced the sample of unaffected banks and the Bank Index, indicating systemic risk.