Yes / We study the asset pricing implications arising from imperfect investor protection using a new governance measure. This is defined as the product of institutional quality in a country and the proportion of free float shares, which captures the impact of controlling block holders. Using monthly returns of 4756 blue chip firms from 50 international equity markets for 13 years, we show through tests of variants of the augmented-CAPM, that a two factor CAPM augmented with a factor mimicking portfolio based on our new investor protection metric yields the highest explanatory power, especially for markets that exhibit true variation in ownership types.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to evaluate consequences of the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union to financial sector and provide different view of the issue than studied analysis carried out so far. The thesis proves the size, broad structure and unique position of the British financial sector in Europe and the world. Theoretical part focuses on the historical perspective, to the explanation of how the financial system works, last but not least to the crucial regulatory norms and sector participants. Based on real and specific data, practical part explains the scope of financial sector, its significance and analyses the UK role in the approval process of specific regulatory standards. Lobbying is denoted as an effective way of influencing standards towards national interests. In conclusion, thesis provides an overview of UK losses and benefits after Brexit, including a proposal for modification the practical operation of the financial system and pay attention to problematic areas. It is demonstrated that Britain for its scale of the financial sector has been long-term influencing European regulation of the sector and despite withdrawal from European Union likely remain a global financial centre.

The understanding of the mechanism determining exchange rates is still an unsolved puzzle in the field of international economics. In the search for the underlying causes of the failure of existing approaches to explain a large proportion of short term exchange rate movements, our review of methodology literature revealed that a significant number of scholars consider the methodological approach employed by mainstream economics as a main cause for the disappointing result of established approaches. In particular, the excessive use of formal modelling and quantitative data as well as the use of oversimplified assumptions has been criticized. In response to this critique we chose to use a more pluralistic approach in our research methodology by employing both qualitative as well as quantitative data analysis. For the analysis of qualitative data, we employed an approach based on grounded theory principles, where we analyze Reuters Foreign exchange market reports. The findings of the qualitative data analysis show that, based on market practitioners commentary, there are two predominant variables affecting exchange rates. First, expectations on interest rate changes appears to be a major variable affecting currency value. An upward revision of interest rate expectations usually suggests an increase in the value of the currency concerned and vice versa. Second major variable affecting exchange rates appear to be global equity returns. In contrast to interest rates, which is a country specific variable, global equity returns is a global variable affecting currencies based on their relative interest rate levels and safe haven attributes. In particular, it is suggested that higher yielding currencies’ value is positive related to global equity returns, while low/lower yielding and safe haven currencies’ value is negatively related to global equity returns. The empirical test we performed to explore the relationship between exchange rates and global equity returns suggest that they are indeed linked. The sign of the relationship depends on the characteristics of the currencies examined. When equity prices increase, currencies with higher interest rates tend to appreciate, whereas currencies with lower interest rates tend to depreciate and vice versa. In addition, the strength of the relationship depends to some extent on relative interest differentials. A stronger relationship is observed when interest differentials are relatively large, while the explanatory power of the model is reduced when interest rate differentials are relatively narrow. Our study presents evidence on the role of stock markets in exchange rate determination which is considerable different to the focus of current theory. Whereas current research focuses on stock market’s relative stock market returns in the respective countries, the findings of this thesis suggests that global stock market returns affect exchange rate movements based on differentiated characteristics of different currencies. Another important contribution of this thesis is that we illustrate the complexity of interactions and links among different variables. For example, whereas interest changes were seen as positively correlated to the home currency value, the relationship was seen as being reversed because of the possible effect of higher interest rates on the subprime crisis. Another example of complex links is the relationship between exchange rates and equity markets. For example, whereas the USD effective exchange rate was not related equity returns during the initial stages of the subprime crises, the strength of the relationship increased significantly when the crisis escalated and the demand for USD increased due to safe haven flows.

This research aims to detect and measure earnings management using a newly modified version of the standard Jones model (Jones, 1991). The standard model is extended to include a measure of discretionary accruals as an additional regressor instead of using the residuals. The variable used to measure discretionary accruals is a composite variable that consists of two components, one that represents the incentive and the other represents the tool of manipulation. The model is applied to detect earnings management in loss reversal companies for listed companies in Jordan and examine the market reaction to the loss reversal. The model is also applied on loss reversal companies for listed companies in the UK and the US. In chapter three, the new model is applied on listed companies in Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). The ASE is structured into two markets: the first market and the second market. Companies are motivated to be listed or remain listed in the first market since it only lists profitable companies. Companies reporting losses more frequently are listed in the second market. Results provide evidence of earnings management for companies listed in the first market. Companies that report a loss in a previous period manipulate in the following period to report profits. As a result of loss reversal, they preserve their place in the first market and avoid dropping back to the second market. This research conducts statistical simulation tests to compare the extended Jones model with the standard model. Results show that the extended model detects earnings management better than the standard one. This new model also separates discretionary accruals from measurement error (i.e. residuals) and makes it possible to accurately measure the whole amount of manipulation. Chapter four examines the investor reaction to the manipulation taking place in the first market. Results show that the market is pricing the discretionary accruals (the manipulation) as a component of net income, although they result only from earnings management. In chapter five, the model is applied on loss reversal firms listed in the UK and in the US. Results show that the companies manipulate to reverse losses and the manipulation depends on to the presence of R&D activities and the changing level in these activities.

The role of the financial sector in helping an economy grow has been the subject of debate for a long time. Recently, however, consensus has been reached, through empirical evidence, showing the importance of financial sector development in achieving economic growth (ADB, 2009). Using the Global Financial Development Database (GFDD) model, the study done here will provide an analysis of financial sector development in Sub-Saharan Africa and its effect on economic growth, using data for 40 countries, in the years from 2000-2014. This analysis was done using a cross-sectional regression analysis of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with data provided from the World Bank. The regression shows significantly positive results between economic growth and firms using banks to finance investments, bank cost to income ratio and bank credit to bank deposits, while significantly negative results are shown in financial system deposits and stock market total value traded. However, seeing as financial sector development is diverse and dynamic, these measurements and the regression done here will not provide a comprehensive picture of the state of financial sector development in SSA.

This masters thesis is based on study of technical analysis of financial markets, i.e. analysis of dependencies between past and present price data, especially when it comes to "supports" and "resistances" or historical price levels where price recently tended to stop and reverse. First of all, summary of the most relevant literature on technical analysis is presented, together with literature on psychology of investing, behavioral finance and market efficiency. Following that, theoretical arguments in favor of possible edge in trading of technical levels are introduced and possible objections are addressed. This theory - in the form of several thousands of unique but similar trading strategies - is then tested on historical data of the most important financial assets. Results are compared to those of conservative buy-and-hold strategy and random trading. We reached the conclusion that trading based on technical price levels brings positive capital gains which are better than those achieved by random trading and buy-and-hold strategy. Parameters of our strategies influence the results in expectable manner more often than not.

This thesis deals with the relationship between yield spreads on the sovereign bonds and their determinants with a primary focus on the Czech Republic. First, a homogeneous panel of Visegrad group countries (V4) was investigated by the pooled mean group (PMG) method of Pesaran et al. (1998). It was found that debt-to-gdp ratio along with VIX, the "fear gauge", are the main factors driving the spread dynamics in the V4 group. Based on the results from PMG estimation, we estimate a three-dimensional vector autoregression (VAR) model and structural VAR (SVAR) model in order to observe spread reactions on external shocks. Among the V4 group countries, Hungary exhibits the largest spread response to a VIX shock. Overall, the (S)VAR results confirmed that countries with higher levels of yields before crisis had also a stronger reaction to the market disturbances during 2007-2009. Furthermore, it was found that for the period 2010-2013, the standard model (macroeconomic fundamentals plus global risk aversion factors) provided less reliable results. As a remedy, financial soundness indicators were incorporated into the VAR model. We conclude that it is important to take into account country's financial sector vulnerabilities when describing the spread dynamics since 2010.

FINANCIAL GEOGRAPHY - AN APPLICATION OF SELECTED CONCEPTS IN TERMS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC Abstract The aim of the thesis is to analyse the main trends of banking system in Czech Republic after 1989. It is primarily an analysis of centralised banking system, on the basis of which the potential regional impacts according to theory of regional segmentation of fiancial markets are tested. Based on the analysis of changes in the distribution of bank headquarters and the analysis of employment in financial sector it is clear, that in terms of the Czech Republic a highly concentrated banking system occured, which is moreover under the strong inluence of foreign capital. The study focused on testing the regional impacts of a centralized system through interviews with business owners in the peripheral region has not proved allegation of discrimination of entrepreneurs in such manner as we would expect according to the theory of regional segmentation of financial markets. However the study showed some problems with providing guarantees for bank loans in the periphery.

The subject of this thesis is the evaluation of certain legal aspects of financial markets regulation related especially to dealing activities. Important role plays the context of contemporary period struggling with the consequences of recent financial crisis with the emphasis put on EU (resp. national) regulation. The first part is in general devoted to the meaning of existent regulation itself. Related legislation and institutional layout are subsequently brought closer in context of national and esp. EU environment. Certain point of interest deserves even (american) the most comprehensive financial markets reform ever. The key part of this thesis devotes to public law aspects instantly influencing dealing and trading activities on financial markets and their contrast to reality. The first theme describes categorization of clients entering on financial markets and duties put on subjects involved (counterparties), who conclude ind. deals with them. Then follow rating agencies, who have been influencing daily routine on financial markets for years and whose evaluation activities imminently influence the row of processes present on financial markets - starting from calculation of capital adequacy requirements until settlement of credit derivatives trades. Capital adequacy is put in context with...

This paper analyzes the causes of financial crises, and on this basis it proposes possible changes in financial regulation. Throughout the paper we work with a hypothesis that the major roots of financial distress are excess credit growth and substantial capital inflows. We test this hypothesis on a dataset comprising entries from Australia, Japan, the UK, and US over the approximate period 1970-2010. The results confirm that there is a consistent relation of credit development to financial crisis incidences and a somewhat less consistent effect of capital inflows. Furthermore, since we find a robust positive effect of past credit growth on the probability of a crisis occurrence, we propose a change in interest rate policy. Our suggestion implies a consideration of credit to GDP ratio during the execution of the monetary policy decisions on interest rates.