Previous research has confirmed the existence of a value premium in a wide array of markets and using this value stock anomaly has yielded superior performance. This thesis investigates if one could take advantage of the existence of a value premium to deploy a dynamic investment strategy on the Swedish stock market (OMXS30) with focus on minimizing risk to achieve higher risk adjusted performance than the stock market index. The investment strategy implemented use Market-to-Book-Value to screen for both entry and exit signals and Modern Portfolio Theory, using the minimum-variance portfolio with short-selling constraints, to allocate assets within the portfolio. The investment strategy is evaluated using the Modigliani-Modigliani Risk Adjusted Performance measure. Conclusions from the thesis are that the strategy does outperform the Swedish stock market index, both in terms of nominal return and risk-adjusted performance. The suboptimal behaviour of investors where they overreact  to signals and unconsciously rely on heuristics is used to explain why this is possible. Market-to-Book-Value, using the first quartile as entry signal and third quartile as exit signal, is considered to be a successful key ratio to screen for value stocks.

Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka om Riksbankens tillkännagivanden av reporänteförändringar har en effekt på den svenska aktiemarknaden, samt om det råder skillnader mellan fyra branscher i Stockholmsbörsen. Studien syftar även till att undersöka om det kan urskönjas en skillnad mellan branschernas räntekänslighet. Metod: Undersökningen baseras på en eventstudie med ett estimeringsfönster på 60 dagar före tillkännagivandet av reporänteförändringen, och ett eventfönster på 11 dagar. Urvalet består samtliga reporänteförändringar mellan 2001-2015, och av följande branscher, Finans & Fastighet, Industrivaror, Hälsovård, Teknologi, som är inhämtade från Stockholmsbörsen. Teori: Den teoretiska utgångspunkten i studien är teorin om den effektiva marknadshypotesen och teorier om reporäntan. Det presenteras även teorier om diskonteringsräntans effekt samt pris- och inkomstelasticitet. Finansiell psykologi, som är en invändning mot effektiva marknadshypotesen, redogörs dessutom tillsammans med tidigare forskning som har legat till grund för undersökningen. Slutsats: Studien resulterar i att det inte råder ett entydigt samband mellan Riksbankens tillkännagivanden av reporänteförändringar och den svenska aktiekursen. Resultatet illustrerar att det råder en skillnad mellan de valda branschernas räntekänslighet. Det går inte direkt att fastställa att den svenska marknaden är effektiv. / Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine if Sweden’s central bank announcements of the federal funds rate have an effect on the Swedish stock market, and whether there are differences between four sectors of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The study also aims to investigate if there is a difference between the sectors interest rate sensitivity.  Method: The study is based on an event study with an estimation window of 60 days prior the announcement of the federal fund rate, and an event window of 11 days. The sample consists of all the announcement of the federal funds rate between 2001- 2015 and the following sectors, Finance & Real Estate, Industrials, Healthcare, Technology, who are acquired from the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Theory: The theoretical basis in this study is the theory of the efficient market hypothesis and theories about the federal funds rate. An introduction to theories about the discount rate and price and income elasticity is also presented in the study. Financial psychology, which is a statement of opposition against the efficient market hypothesis, is also introduced together with previous research which the examination is based on. Conclusion: The results show that there is no unambiguous correlation between Sweden’s central bank announcements of the federal funds rate and the Swedish stock price. The result illustrate that there is a difference between the selected sectors interest rate sensitivity. In summary, it’s established that the Swedish stock market cannot be seen as an efficient market.

Submitted by Andrei Francalacci de Castro Faria (andrei.francalacci@bndes.gov.br) on 2016-06-07T19:21:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andrei Francalacci.pdf: 2215041 bytes, checksum: 671600e92ce454211d0c6493c0ba75bc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2016-06-10T12:18:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andrei Francalacci.pdf: 2215041 bytes, checksum: 671600e92ce454211d0c6493c0ba75bc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2016-06-20T16:21:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andrei Francalacci.pdf: 2215041 bytes, checksum: 671600e92ce454211d0c6493c0ba75bc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-27T18:56:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andrei Francalacci.pdf: 2215041 bytes, checksum: 671600e92ce454211d0c6493c0ba75bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-31 / We studied the effects on Petrobras shares arising from the presentation of the earnings announcements of 2014´s third and fourth quarter, the first announcements made after the beginning of the corruption investigation called Operação Lava Jato. We evaluate the impact on prices of the company's stocks with an Event Study. As a control, we analyzed the effects of the disclosure of 1,152 quarterly earnings announcements on other 48 stocks that are part of the IBOVESPA´s theoretical portfolio in the period between 2010 and 2015. We seek to identify the presence of abnormal returns and verify that all information is automatically transferred to prices, suggesting the semi-strong efficiency of the Brazilian stock market in accordance with the Market Efficiency Hypothesis (EMH) developed by Fama (1970). At the end we compare the results of the two specific earning announcements studied with the observed results of other earnings announcements of Petrobras. No evidence was found of market efficiency during the 2010-2015 period neither for the group of 48 stocks, NÃO_PETRO, nor for the PETRO group, formed by the two Petrobras shares. We then analyzed the results in two periods. The first, called Bonanza (2010-2013), showed the same results as the 2010-2015 period, with no significant abnormal returns in the event window [0,1]. The results of the Crisis period (2014 -2015) showed that the information of the earning announcements ha a statistical significant impacted on the prices of the studied stocks. To analyzing the results of the individual earning announcements of Petrobras, we identified the need for additional information, extrapolating the scope of an event study. / Este trabalho propõe-se a estudar os efeitos sobre as ações da Petrobras decorrentes da apresentação dos balanços do terceiro e quarto trimestre de 2014, primeiros balanços apresentados após as denúncias da Operação Lava Jato. Avaliamos os impactos nos preços das ações da empresa através de um Estudo de Evento. Como controle, analisamos os efeitos da divulgação de 1.152 balanços trimestrais sobre outras 48 ações de que fazem parte da Carteira Teórica do IBOVESPA no período entre 2010 e 2015. Buscamos identificar a presença de retornos anormais e verificar se toda informação se transfere automaticamente aos preços, sugerindo a eficiência semiforte do mercado de ações brasileiro de acordo com a Hipótese de Eficiência do Mercado (HEM) desenvolvida por Fama (1970). Ao final comparamos os resultados específicos dos balanços em estudo com os resultados observados em outros balanços da própria Petrobras. Não foram encontradas evidências de eficiência de mercado durante o período 2010-2015 nem para o grupo de 48 ações, chamadas de NÃO_PETRO, nem para o grupo PETRO, formado pelas duas ações da Petrobras. Ao dividir os mesmos grupos em dois momentos, os resultados para o período batizado de Bonança (2010-2013), permanecem iguais ao do período completo, ao passo que o período chamado de Crise (2014 -2015) apresenta retornos anormais estatisticamente significativos nas janelas de eventos. Ao avaliar os retornos de balanços individuais da Petrobras, identificamos a necessidade de informações adicionais, extrapolando o escopo de um estudo de evento.

Corn production is scattered geographically over various continents, but most of it is grown in the United States. As such, the world price of corn futures contracts is largely dominated by North American corn prices as traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. In recent years, this market has been characterised by an increase in price volatility and magnitude of price movement as a result of decreasing stock levels. The development and implementation of an effective and successful derivative price risk management strategy based on the Chicago Board of Trade corn futures contract will therefore be of inestimable value to market stakeholders worldwide. The research focused on the efficient market hypothesis and the possibility of contesting this phenomenon through an application of a derivative price risk management methodology. The methodology is based on a combination of an analysis of market trends and technical oscillators with the objective of generating returns superior to that of a market benchmark. The study found that market participants are currently unable to exploit price movement in a manner which results in returns that contest the notion of efficient markets. The methodology proposed, however, does allow the user to consistently achieve returns superior to that of a predetermined market benchmark. The benchmark price for the purposes of this study was the average price offered by the market over the contract lifetime, and such, the efficient market hypothesis was successfully contested. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

Die studie ondersoek die inligtingswaarde van dividende as 'n moontlike verldaring van die waargenome aandeleprysreaksie op dividendaankondigings. Twee algemene hipoteses is getoets, naamlik dat 'n betekenisvolle verandering in 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid inligting oor daardie maatskappy se toekomstige verdienste per aandeel bevat, en tweedens dat hierdie inligting in die reaksie van aandelepryse na die aankondiging van die verandering gereflekteer word. Die belangrikste bevindinge is soos volg: • Die inligting vervat in huidige dividendaankondigings kan nie deur beleggers gebruik word om die volgende jaar se verdienste per aandeel van 'n maatskappy te voorspel nie. Die aandeleprysreaksie op positiewe, negatiewe en neutrale nuus is statisties beduidend, maar vind hoofsaaklik in dieselfde rigting plaas. Beleggers sou dus nie die inligting vervat in dividendaankondigings kan gebruik om bogemiddelde opbrengskoerse te genereer nie. • Die inligtingswaarde van dividende is dus 'n onwaarskynlike verldaring van die invloed van 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid op die waarde van sy gewone aandele. / This research investigates the information content of dividends as a possible explanation for the observed share price reaction to dividend announcements. Two hypotheses were tested, namely that a significant change in a company's dividend policy contains information on that company's future earnings per share, and secondly, that this information is reflected in the share price reaction after the announcement of the change. The most important findings are as follows: • Investors cannot use the information contained in current dividend announcements to predict a company's earnings per share for the next year. • Share price reactions to positive, negative and neutral news are statistically significant, but will be in the same direction. Hence investors cannot use this information to generate above-normal returns. The information content of dividends is therefore an unlikely explanation of the influence a company's dividend policy has on the value of its ordinary shares. / Business Management / MCom (Sakebestuur)

Submitted by Mila Pires (mila.pires@itau-unibanco.com.br) on 2013-02-20T18:57:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Versão_escrita_base_dados_estudos_anteriores_v12.pdf: 455595 bytes, checksum: f92da58e5624182947033d01042c45bf (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia (suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2013-02-20T19:07:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Versão_escrita_base_dados_estudos_anteriores_v12.pdf: 455595 bytes, checksum: f92da58e5624182947033d01042c45bf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-20T19:10:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Versão_escrita_base_dados_estudos_anteriores_v12.pdf: 455595 bytes, checksum: f92da58e5624182947033d01042c45bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-04 / O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar a presença de dois efeitos no mercado acionário brasileiro: disponibilidade e momento, amplamente estudados para o mercado norte-americano em publicações anteriores. Utilizando uma amostra de 70 empresas foram analisadas séries temporais de retornos mensais do período de ago/2006 a jan/2011, cujos resultados não foram suficientes para rejeitar a hipótese de não eficiência do mercado brasileiro. No teste do efeito disponibilidade, apenas uma das quatro estratégias testadas com a utilização do indicador de retorno do mês anterior da ação gerou retornos positivos (2,27% ao mês), e os indicadores de volume anormal e 'presença na mídia' geraram retornos negativos nas estratégias testadas. No caso do efeito momento, das 16 estratégias estudadas, a única que proporcionou retorno positivo estatisticamente significativo foi a que considerou o período de três meses de formação e manutenção das carteiras (2,01% ao mês). / The objective of this study was to test the presence of two effects in the Brazilian stock market: availability and momentum, widely studied for the American market in previous publications. Using a sample of 70 companies a time series of data returns from Aug/2006 to Jan/2011 was analyzed and the results were not sufficient to reject the hypothesis of an efficient market. In the availability effect test, only one of the four strategies tested using the return of the preceding month indicator had a positive return (2,27% p.m), whilst abnormal volume and "media presence" indicators generated negative returns. In the momentum effect test, out of the 16 studied strategies, the only statistically significant positive return was with portfolio considering three months for the formation and maintenance periods (2,01% p.m).

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate whether executives can earn abnormal return by purchasing their own stocks and establish an understanding of possible aspects. Method: In order to observe if abnormal return exists on insider buy-transactions, a method triangulation with deductive approach has been made. An event study has been adopted to measure the transaction events. In addition, CAAR has been calculated with aid of a model. These values go through a significance test in order to support the hypothesis.  Theory: The study is grounded on the efficient market hypothesis, information asymmetry, behavioural finance and signalling. Furthermore, previous research has been adopted to support the study.  Conclusion: The results of the study show that executives for growth companies can profit from abnormal returns. / Syfte: Syftet med studien är att studera om personer i ledande ställning profiterar vid insynsförvärv av aktier samt skapa en djupare förståelse kring möjliga underliggande faktorer. Metod: För att studera om det uppstår abnorm avkastning vid insynsförvärv har en metodtriangulering med deduktiv ansats behandlats. Eventstudie har använts för att mäta transaktions händelserna. Vidare beräknas CAAR med hjälp av en modell. Dessa kommer sedan att signifikanstestas för att stödja hypoteserna.  Teori: Teorier som behandlas i denna studie är den effektiva marknadshypotesen, informationsasymmetrin, beteendebaserad finansiering och signaleringshypotesen. Vidare behandlas tidigare forskningar som ger stöd till studien. Slutsats: Resultaten för studien påvisar att personer i ledande ställning för tillväxtföretag kan profitera på abnorm avkastning.

Syfte: Det huvudsakliga syftet är att testa om Piotroskis F_SCORE tillämpat på aktier med hög book-to-market kvot kan överavkasta marknadsportföljen samt, som en konsekvens av detta, undersöka vilken grad av marknadseffektivitet som föreligger. Det sekundära syftet är att tillföra ett kunskapsbidrag till företagsledare om relevansen i book-to-market kvoten. Metod: Detta är en kvantitativ studie som utgår från ett positivistiskt synsätt och en hypotetiskt-deduktiv ansats. Statistiska tester i form av regressionsanalyser har utformats för att bestämma resultatets signifikansnivå. Den empiriska datan har inhämtats från databasen Thomson Reuter Datastream och sammanställts i Excel för att sedan analyseras i statistikprogrammet Stata. Resultat & slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att värdeportföljen överavkastar marknadsindex samt att den gör det över en längre tidsperiod. Det går också att fastställa att den riskjusterade avkastningen för värdeportföljen är högre än för marknaden, vilket tyder på att överavkastningen inte beror på en högre risk. Det går dock inte att avgöra om den effektiva marknadshypotesen råder eller ej, däremot går det att utesluta att den starka och semi-starka formen av marknadseffektivitet gäller. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: För att studera vidare huruvida den svaga formen av marknadseffektivitet råder är ett förslag till vidare forskning att göra en studie utifrån Contrarian modellen för att använda teknisk analys som endast tar hänsyn till historiska kursrörelser för att förutspå framtida avkastning. Ett annat förslag till vidare forskning är att genomföra en liknande studie som denna men då bortse från book to market kvoten och istället köpa aktier med ett F_SCORE högre eller lika med 5 samt att blanka de aktier som har ett F_SCORE under 5. Det tredje förslaget är att studera vidare kring sambandet mellan avkastning och anomalier som småbolagseffekten, likviditet och beteendefinans för att få en tydligare förståelse för vad som orsakar överavkastningen. Uppsatsens bidrag: Det teoretiska bidraget är att den aktuella investeringsstrategin överavkastar marknadsindex för vald tidsperiod utan en nödvändigtvis högre risk. F_SCORE antar en normalfördelningskurva där de bolag som har F_SCORE över fem generellt presterar bättre. Resultatet visar även att book to market kvoten är ett användbart nyckeltal för bolagsvärdering. Det praktiska bidraget är att det kan vara av vikt för företagsledare att fokusera på book to market kvoten för att locka investerare. För investerare är bidraget att denna investeringsstrategi kan slå marknadsindex utan att risken i portföljen ökar. / Aim The main aim is to test if Piotroskis F_SCORE applied on stocks with high book-to- market ratio outperforms the market portfolio and therefore determine the level of market efficiency. The secondary aim is to provide knowledge to business executives about the relevance of a book-to-market policy. Method This study is a quantitative research which assumes a positivistic research philosophy with a deductive approach. Several regression analyses have been used to confirm the statistical significance of the different estimated parameters. The empirical results give answers to two hypotheses based on the aim of this research. The empirical data have been collected from Thomson Reuter Datastream, compiled in Excel and analyzed with the statistical software Stata. Result & Conclusions The empirical results of this study show that the value portfolio has a higher return than the market index. The risk-adjusted return for the value portfolio is higher compared to the market portfolio. This indicates that the higher return of the value portfolio is not due to a higher risk. By the results of this study there is not possible to determine whether the market is fully efficient or not. It is only possible to exclude the strong and semi-strong form of market efficiency. Suggestions for future research For future studies, we suggest further research about the weak form of market efficiency. Using historical data to determine future return, as Contrarian model, is one suggestion to reach further evidence of market (in)efficiency. Since F_SCORE assumes a normal distribution and because of the poor performance of the low F_SCORE firms another suggestion is short-sell these stocks to see if the return ca be increased. This empirical field needs further research about which factors that causes the higher return for these stocks. The small firm effect, liquidity and behavioral finance are just a few anomalies that may have a relationship with excess return. Contribution of the thesis The investment strategy in this research shows a higher excess return compared to the market index as well as a higher risk-adjusted return over the given period. This is not only a contribution to investors but also in a theoretical field due to the efficient market hypothesis. F_SCORE have a normal distribution curve where the stocks with F_SCORE of 5 or higher generally have a higher mean return. Another contribution is the relevance of book to market ratio as a useful strategy for valuating companies. The practical contribution gives business executives better understanding about the relevance of a book-to-market policy when attracting investors.

This master thesis, Analysis and Influences of Fundamental news on Gold Prices deals with macroeconomic variables that drive the price of gold. This paper is divided into three chapters: Possible investment forms in gold, Fundamental analysis of commodities, and lastly Analysis of impact of strong economies and their influence on gold prices. In the first chapter, emphasis is put on the Efficient Market Theory that plays an important role in success or failure of investment strategies such as technical and fundamental analysis. The second chapter illustrates the Commitment of Traders (COT) report and how it is used as a tool to predict the movement of gold prices. This chapter also discusses other large drivers effecting gold prices such as financial and geopolitical stability, inflation, interest rates, Central Banking operations, the value of the US dollar, and other influences. The final chapter analyzes the impact of announced fundamental news in the United States, China, and Europe on the price of gold. The empirical part of this paper analysis the impact of announced fundamental news in United States, China and Europe on gold prices. With the use of the linear regression method, we can test whether the macroeconomic variables significantly influence the return on gold investments immediately after their announcement, or over long periods of time. If this new public data was calculated into gold prices directly, investors would not be able to achieve additional returns by using fundamental analysis. The major findings are summed up at the end of the last chapter.

Förvärv av företag sker till höger och vänster, i alla länder, branscher och kategorier. Motiven till förvärv må vara av varierande art, men det som är av betydelse för ett företag är vilket värde ett förvärv kan generera. Denna studie undersöker marknadsreaktioner vid olika typer och kombinationer av förvärv; däribland horisontella, vertikala och branschspecifika förvärv, med huvudsaklig inriktning på värdet som skapas vid gränsöverskridande och nationella förvärv. Detta görs i syfte att kartlägga eventuella överlägsna typer av förvärv. Klassiska teorier i form av effektiva marknadshypotesen och “random walk”-teorin i kombination med insiderhandel utgör den vetenskapliga utgångspunkten i studien. Metoden är en eventstudie, där den abnormala avkastningen vid dessa förvärv beräknas, för att kunna analyseras i förhållande till tidigare forskning. Vidare testas studiens hypoteser med hypotesprövning och samband analyseras med hjälp av enkla linjära regressioner som sedan tolkas. Resultatet visar på att gränsöverskridande förvärv ger den högsta genomsnittliga kumulativa abnormala avkastningen (CAAR), och vidare är horisontella förvärv att föredra över vertikala av samma anledning. Offentliga sektorn och tjänstesektorn ger de högsta CAAR sett till branscher. / Merger and acquisitions is happening everywhere; in all countries, industries and in all categories. The motives of acquiring other companies may differ, but what is truly meaningful is the value an acquisition can bring. This study deals with different types and combinations of acquisitions; amongst horizontal, vertical and industry specific acquisitions, with main focus on the value created in Cross Border and national acquisitions. The aim of the study is thereby to plot superior types of acquisitions. Classic theories like the Efficient market hypothesis and the Random walk theory will be used as a theoretical framework, along with the idea of Insider trading. The method used is an Event study, where the abnormal return is calculated at the announcement day of acquisition and is later analyzed in association to prior studies. Deduced hypothesis are then processed in hypothesis testing and correlations are being studied through simple linear regressions. The result show that Cross Border acquisitions give the highest value (CAAR) to acquirer and the horizontal acquisitions are superior to vertical ones for the same reason. The public sector and the service sector yield the highest CAAR when industries are being studied.