2008 is a special year for the global financial market. The global financial tsunami ignited from the U.S sub-prime mortgage crisis has caused Wall Street financial giants to collapse. The credit crunch in turn caused a contraction in the real economy and the world paid a heavy price for this financial tsunami. Charles Dickens quote¡G "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ". Compared to European and the United States large-scale banks, China's banks are less opened and have relatively small exposure to derivative financial products. Consequently, these barriers have led them to limit their losses and write-downs from the sub-prime mortgage crisis. This thesis studies the major China-based banks¡¦ profitability by comparing these banks¡¦ financial and operational structures, and correlations to several economic factors. At the same time, Fama-French three-factor model was used to verify the efficiency of the China¡¦s stock market. The conclusions of this study are presented as follows¡G(a) Although these Chinese banks do have economies of scale, but the relationship between scale and profitability is not proportional. (b) Chinese banks are less affected by the financial crisis as a result of the high level of protection and control of the Chinese government, coupled with the fact that most of the Chinese banks¡¦ core operations are net interest income (c) lending activity¡B net interest margin¡B and asset quality are the key drivers for Chinese banks, and these three factors are mostly negatively correlated to the economic condition. (d) Based on the regression result of the Fama-French three factors model and the result of the T test, the relation of the excess return of the Chinese banks¡¦ Shanghai-listed A-shares to both the market value and the ratio of book to market value is significant while that of the Chinese banks¡¦ Hong Kong-listed H-shares is insignificant.

Denna studie behandlar nedskrivning av goodwill i svenska börsnoterade företag, och beaktar fyra möjliga förklaringar till detta. Relevant regelverk för den finansiella rapporteringen är IFRS. Genom en kvantitativ metod och ett deduktivt angreppssätt uppmärksammar vi problematiken kring att forskningen genererat olika förklaringar till att en nedskrivning äger rum.   Studien omfattar 1260 observationer i form av räkenskapsår, som sträcker sig mellan åren 2006 till 2013. Vårt empiriska material är inhämtat via databaser och omfattar finansiell information för vart och ett av företagen, fördelat på de olika åren. Nedskrivningskostnaden för goodwill är manuellt insamlat från de företag där goodwill som tillgångspost minskat från år t-1 till år t.   Från vårt teoretiska ramverk deduceras hypoteser som tillhandahåller eventuella orsaker till varför en nedskrivning kan ha ägt rum. Studien undersöker inledningsvis om en nedskrivning kan härledas till rådande företagsekonomiska förhållanden, där vedertagna undersökningsmått baserat på nyckeltal beräknade från årsredovisningar används. Vidare undersöks om nedskrivning av goodwill kan kopplas till resultatmanipulerande åtgärder genom stålbad eller vinstutjämning. Dessa kompententer i studien undersöks utifrån befintlig metodik tillhandahållen genom likartad forskning, men som utförts på andra geografiska marknader. Slutligen testas även, baserat på en egenhändigt framtagen operationalisering, finanskrisens inverkan på nedskrivning av goodwill.   Vår studies statistiska moment innehåller binära regressionsanalyser som med ett antal förklarande variabler prövar vad som kan förklara om en nedskrivning äger rum eller inte, samt en multipel regression som söker determinanter för nedskrivningens storlek.   Studiens resultat påvisar ett signifikant negativt samband mellan nedskrivning av goodwill och räntabilitet på totala tillgångar, vilket implicerar att bolag med sämre avkastning mer sannolikt kan komma att utföra en nedskrivning av goodwill. Även bolag med en hög andel goodwill i förhållande till totala tillgångar kan förväntas genomföra en nedskrivning, vilket visas genom ett signifikant positivt samband mellan beroende och förklarande variabel. Samma parameter, andel goodwill, kan även förklara storleken på en nedskrivning.   Vidare kan studien, genom statistisk signifikans, visa att nedskrivning av goodwill sker i samband med den resultatmanipulerande åtgärden stålbad, vilket innebär att bolag med ett redan dåligt resultat försämrar det ytterligare genom en nedskrivning. Att stålbadets motsats, vinstutjämning, förekommer som resultatmanipulerande åtgärd kan inte påvisas. Finanskrisens eventuella inverkan på vår beroende variabel kan inte styrkas.     Sammantaget visar studien att bolag med svag avkastningseffekt tenderar att oftare skriva ned goodwill än andra bolag, vilket eventuellt kan indikera att de följer de rekommendationer som standarden, IFRS, förespråkar. Indikationer på att resultatmanipulering genom stålbad förekommer på stockholmsbörsen kan också identifieras.

My dissertation consists of empirical and theoretical essays on Microeconomic Theory and International Economics. The first chapter discusses the existence and characterization of a model that determines producer's optimal pricing and allocation rule as a preannounced markdown schedule. The mechanism focuses on pricing and operational implications of allotting scarce resources when customers are heterogeneous in their valuations and sensitivities towards availability of product. The proposed mechanism suggests that a carefully designed multistep markdown pricing could achieve optimal revenue when selling a single unit. However, to sell multiple units, monopolist should modify the implementation of markdown pricing by either hiding the number of available products or selling them via contingent contracts and upfront payments. In the second essay, we study the heterogeneity of finance and growth nexus across countries. Our paper contributes to the literature by investigating whether this impact differs across regions and types of economy. Using a rich dataset, cross-section and dynamic panel estimation results suggest that the beneficial effect of financial deepening on economic growth in fact displays measurable heterogeneity; it is generally smaller in oil exporting countries; in certain regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); and in lower-income countries. Further analysis suggests that these differences might be driven by regulatory/supervisory characteristics and related to differing performance on financial access for a given level of depth. The third chapter analyzes contraction of exports in the aftermath of severe financial crises and tests for its heterogeneity across different industries and based on their credit conditions. It provides a theoretical framework to provide insight on why sectors are hit disproportionately during and in the aftermath of severe financial distresses, and confirms most of them with empirical estimations. The findings suggest that industries with greater reliance on outside financing and fewer shares of tangible assets experience greater contractions in export volumes in the years following a severe financial crisis. / text

This research paper investigates the performance of Islamic and Conventional banks in The Gambia and United Kingdom for the periods 2008/2009 to 2012. Islamic banking is conceived by many as a recent phenomenon which in the last few decades attracted lots of attention and discussions. Islamic banking is a system of banking that is in consistent with Islamic law (Sharia). Islam does not allow the payment or acceptance of interest charges (Riba) in banking activities such as lending and depositing of money. Whiles Conventional banks deal with Interest, Islamic banks method of operation is strictly based on Sharia principles (profit, loss and risk sharing). The objective of this study is to analyze and investigate the impact of the financial crisis on the performance of some Islamic and Conventional banks in The Gambia and United Kingdom. Financial ratios are used to measure Profitability, Liquidity and Financial Leverage of the banks. The empirical results of the analysis showed that the Islamic banks selected for the study generally fared better than their counterpart Conventional banks in terms of Liquidity and Financial Leverage during and after the financial crisis. Among other findings, the selected Conventional Banks in this study are found to be relatively more profitable than their peer Islamic banks from 2008/2009 to 2012.

The economic crisis of 2007 has had debilitating effects on the global economy, affecting GDP growth, unemployment and trade to name a few. In response to these economic effects, numerous policy interventions were implemented. There are various existing time-series methods available to determine better estimates of GDP growth rates, one of which is Stein’s Paradox which uses observed averages to estimate unobservable quantities which are closer to the true unknown GDP growth rates or theta (θ) in order to determine better growth rates post the economic crisis. The resulting James-Stein estimator (z) is said to be better than the arithmetic average, and thus a closer approximation to the true GDP growth rates which are unobservable. This dissertation analyses the effects of the 2008 financial crisis on the global economy, with specific reference to South Africa and America, and their corresponding policy interventions to determine the growth trajectory after the crisis. The main objective is to determine if better estimates of GDP growth can be calculated using Stein’s Paradox, across a sample of 30 countries, using quarterly GDP growth for the period 2005 to 2008. Annual GDP data was also used for the period 2009-2011, and future GDP growth rates were forecasted for the period 2012 to 2016. To reinforce the Stein’s Paradox, the Monte Carlo study is undertaken. It is used to determine how the James-Stein estimates perform under different conditions using a common c or unique c, and to determine which condition will provide more accurate GDP growth rates (Muthen. 2002). Analysis of time series data across a sample of 30 countries using Stein’s Paradox provided better estimates of GDP growth rates than the individual average growth rates for each country based on the lower standard deviation and total squared error of estimation achieved. This shows that the results are closer to theta and have a smaller amount of error, particularly when a common c was used. The Monte Carlo results indicate that better GDP growth rates are achieved when using a common c instead of a unique c given that a smaller standard deviation and variance is derived. Therefore the Monte Carlo study aims to reinforce or verify Stein’s Paradox. The study also indicates that emerging and developing countries seem to be the driving forces of growth in the future, while developed countries seem to be lagging behind. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

While several studies examine the managerial structure of privately owned agribusinesses, few studies take a comprehensive look at publically traded agribusiness firms. Our study examines the historical position of agribusiness compared to the market, and then studies the impact of the global economic and financial crisis. The objective of this study is to pinpoint effects of corporate financial management strategies, commonly researched in financial literature on agribusiness firms’ performance. Through utilizing a quantile regression we find that agribusiness position in times of financial crisis is directly related to firm performance. As we examine internal factors, several interesting impacts of managerial factors emerge. These results are useful for agribusiness firms seeking to improve their performance, as we show which management strategies related to capital structure, and firm size are associated with an increase in profitability based on the performance record of the agribusiness. Additionally, we examine how these factors impact internal financial distress of the agribusiness firms. Our conclusions clarify the impact of traditional financial management techniques on agribusiness firms and lead to questions for further research. Ultimately, the presented research provides a foundational knowledge of corporate agribusinesses financial performance.

The financial crisis that struck financial markets in 2008 was devastating for the global economy. The impact continues to be felt in the market - most recently in sovereign defaults. 1 There are many questions as to the origin of the crisis and how the same events may be prevented in the future. This dissertation explores two financial instruments: securitisation and credit default swaps (CDSs) and attempts to establish the role they played in the financial crisis. To fully understand the events that unfolded before and during the crisis, a sound theoretical understanding of these instruments is required. This understanding is important to discern the future of stable financial markets and to gain insight into some of the potential risks faced by financial markets. The South African perspective regarding securitisation, CDSs and the global financial crisis is an important field of study. The impact of the crisis on South Africa will be explored in this dissertation, as well as, the effect of the crisis on South Africa's securitisation market (which has proved healthy and robust over the first part of the new millennium despite the global slowdown of these instruments) and the CDS market. A key goal of this work is to establish whether or not CDSs have been used in South Africa to hedge the credit risk component of bonds linked to asset–backed securities (ABSs). This will provide an indication of the maturity of the South African credit risk transfer (CRT) market and how South Africa compares to more developed financial markets regarding complexity, regulation, sophistication and market sentiment. Through the exploration and understanding of these concepts, the efficacy of emerging economies to adapt to globalisation, and how welcome financial innovation has proved to be in emerging markets will be addressed. / Thesis (M.Com. (Risk management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The financial crisis that struck financial markets in 2008 was devastating for the global economy. The impact continues to be felt in the market - most recently in sovereign defaults. 1 There are many questions as to the origin of the crisis and how the same events may be prevented in the future. This dissertation explores two financial instruments: securitisation and credit default swaps (CDSs) and attempts to establish the role they played in the financial crisis. To fully understand the events that unfolded before and during the crisis, a sound theoretical understanding of these instruments is required. This understanding is important to discern the future of stable financial markets and to gain insight into some of the potential risks faced by financial markets. The South African perspective regarding securitisation, CDSs and the global financial crisis is an important field of study. The impact of the crisis on South Africa will be explored in this dissertation, as well as, the effect of the crisis on South Africa's securitisation market (which has proved healthy and robust over the first part of the new millennium despite the global slowdown of these instruments) and the CDS market. A key goal of this work is to establish whether or not CDSs have been used in South Africa to hedge the credit risk component of bonds linked to asset–backed securities (ABSs). This will provide an indication of the maturity of the South African credit risk transfer (CRT) market and how South Africa compares to more developed financial markets regarding complexity, regulation, sophistication and market sentiment. Through the exploration and understanding of these concepts, the efficacy of emerging economies to adapt to globalisation, and how welcome financial innovation has proved to be in emerging markets will be addressed. / Thesis (M.Com. (Risk management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

企業從創立之導入期，逐漸成長茁壯，進入成長期、成熟期、到衰退期，在其生命週期過程中的每一個階段，都必須面對內外環境急遽變遷的嚴酷考驗，及「適者生存、不適者淘汰」的殘酷事實挑戰。最能適應環境變化之企業，才有生存機會，否則將走入歷史之命運。 企業之突然崩潰、清算倒閉，其影響所及除股東、員工、客戶、供應商、債權人等關係人外，國家整體產業結構、經濟、及社會大眾亦難倖免，甚至全球各國都將遭受波，如2007年之美國次貸風暴，衍生為全球之金融海嘯，造成全球經濟大蕭條，其嚴重性，不可小覬。 企業發生財務危機，除因突發性之重大意外事故或災害外，都是經過日積月累過程所產生的結果。企業「財務危機的生命週期」可分為(1)醞釀之潛伏期、(2)爆發之發生期、(3)擴大之惡化期、(4)財務危機之處理期，及(5)經財務危機處理後之觀察期。 企業若能在「財務危機的生命週期」早期階段予以解決，對企業之傷害最輕。成功的財務危機處理，不僅能化解危機，甚至還能夠反敗為勝，利用危機創造利基，但依歷史資料觀察顯示，陷入財務危機之企業，後續能成功繼續存活者，畢竟仍為少數。 本研究以財務報表及財務比率等財務資訊，分析探討一家已營運三十餘年的老店何以發生財務危機之情事？其可能之徵兆或原因為何？該個案企業又如何面對？如何透過債務協商解決財務危機？於財務危機處理之債務重組與營運重組後之財務績效是否獲得改善？是否脫離財務危機之陰霾？ 本研究就個案之分析探討所獲結論：一、個案企業透過債務協商與處理之「債務重組」及內部控管與營運效能提升之「營運重組」後，應已脫離財務危機之風險。二、企業面臨財務危機時之債務協商與處理能否成功之重要因素：1.債務協商與解決的基本之道：(1)高階經營管理者及其團隊之誠信與誠懇度、(2)財務透明度、(3)產業或產品之能見度、(4)公平性－公平對待各債權人。(5)主動性、積極性與及時性。2.債務協商與解決的協助機制：(1)推請有舉足輕重之債權金融機構(債權人)出面整合、(2)善用政府、金融機構與公會輔導機制、(3)善用專家顧問之協助機制、(4)盡量整合各項不同債務成一，減少個案之要求與干擾。3.自助人助－加強內部控管及開源節流措施之營運重組：(1)提升本業營運效能，加速營運體質改善、(2)縮減支出，降低成本，提升獲利水準、(3)處分變賣不具效益或效益不佳或閒置之資產，回收資金、(4)檢視及爭取內部或外部可能之「續命仙丹」資源、(5)衡量本身營運與財務能力，主動提出還款計畫供協商。 / The business cycle is usually divided into four stages: build-up, expansion, maturity and recession. A business will inevitably encounter the severe tests in rapidly changing environment and need to deal with the challenges for “Survival” at every stage of the life cycle. Some can survive if well adapt to the change of environment, otherwise disappear. The collapse and bankruptcy of businesses will affect not only its related parties such as shareholders, employees, clients, vendors and debtors but also the national industrial framework, economy, society and even the whole world. For example, the sub-prime crisis of the United States in 2007 caused the worldwide spreading of financial storm and resulted in global recession. No one could slight such severity. It usually takes a long period of time for a company to dip into financial crisis unless there is a sudden occurrence of accident or catastrophe. The life cycle of business financial crisis can be described as follows: (1) the latent period, (2) the occurrence period, (3) the deterioration period, (4) the recovery period and then (5) the post-crisis observation period. A business will only get the lightest damage if problems can be solved at the early stage of life cycle of business financial crisis. The successful financial management can not only minimize the damage of financial crisis and in some cases can even turn defeat into victory. However, it is a very rare case according to the past records... This study, based on the financial information is to analyze and discuss how an over-30-year-old company dipped into financial crisis? What were the signs to reveal upcoming crisis or reasons to make it happened? How did the company deal with the crucial challenges and how did the company solve the financial problem through debt negotiation and settlement? Did the financial performance of the company improve after settlement of financial crisis? And did the company get away from the haze of financial crisis? The conclusions of this case study are summarized in two aspects. First of all, it is believed that the company has recovered from the financial crisis after completing the negotiation for debt restructure, reinforcing the internal control and enhancing operational efficiency through reorganization. Secondly, there are some important factors to make the debt negotiation successful. Fundamentally, it requires honest and sincere attitudes of top-management, financial transparency, visible industry future, fairness to respective debtors and aggressive initiative with timely response. In addition, a successful negotiation mechanism should also need a leading debtor to integrate the various opinions, the proper use of guidance and assistance mechanisms of government, financial institutions and industrial association, the proper use of guidance and assistance mechanisms of the specialists and consultants, and consolidation of debts and liabilities into one negotiation system to simplify the negotiation process. Finally, the company facing the financial crisis has to self-help first by taking all possible measures in achieving more effective internal control and cost saving through the operational restructure programs. The programs have to be able to improve the operational efficiencies, to reduce the expenditure and operational cost-down to lift up the profitability, to dispose idle or low-value asset for generating cash, to strive for the possible internal and external resources for sustainable operation and to initiate the repayment plan based on the financial capability.

The global financial crisis has been catalogued as one of the worst economical recessions since the Great Depression in 1930’s. The history in Latin America has shown that the region has been turbulent in respect of economic crisis. They were three main channels, which are divided in contagion and/or interdepended to Latin America; first the remittances saw a drop, the smallest countries like the Central Americans countries were the most affected by this channel. The second channel was in the export with the freeze in the international trade market. And the third channel was the financial shock with global finances and credit constraint. For the seven biggest economies; Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela; the second and third channel were the ones that most affected them. There is not proof that within the region toxic assets were acquired; this is the main raison that we have take macroeconomics variables to measure the impact of the crisis. Thanks to the propitious economic circumstances in the past years made Latin American countries had a great economic growth, this helped them to grow their international reserves and have a healthier fiscal system. Those two tools were fundamental to fight against the crisis with counter cyclical policies. Also most of the countries have started to diversify they exports to other regions, focusing more in Asia especially the gigantic Republic Peoples of China. Some countries apply this strategy more aggressively than others, and as a result they bounced back quicker than other countries. It has been said, that this kind of economic depressions only happens once every one hundred years. Latin America suffered as the entire world did, but they were better prepare and their strategies worked to reactivate their local economies. Some countries have been economically performing better and have kept their inflation and unemployment rates at the same level as before the crisis started.