Populations of cells live in uncertain environments, where they encounter large variations in nutrients, oxygen and toxic compounds. In the fluctuating environment, cells can sense their surroundings and express proteins to protect themselves against harmful substances. However, if the stressor appears infrequently or abruptly, sensing can be too costly or too slow, and cells cannot rely solely on it. To hedge against the sudden appearance of a stressor, cell populations can also rely on phenotypic diversification through bet-hedging. In bet-hedging, cells exploit noise in gene expression or use multistable genetic networks to produce an heterogeneous distribution of resistance-conferring protein levels. In this thesis, we analyze novel roles of noise in biological systems. Through a combination of modeling and stochastic simulations, we find that noise can coordinate multi-component stress response mechanisms in a subset of the population with no extra cost. In addition, we use evolutionary algorithms to analyze the conditions where the benefits provided by noise in gene expression are equivalent to those of a more complicated, bistable distribution of protein levels. Our results show that for cells living in noisy fluctuating environments, both noise in gene expression and bistability show similar growth rates, meaning that noise in gene expression can be an effective bet-hedging strategy.

Model CAPM je považován za základní model při oceňování systematického risku aktiv a jeho provázanosti s výnosností trhu. Tato práce využívá této struktury a použitím různých metod, mezi které patří OLS, DCC MGARCH a SSF modelovaní, se snaží najít nejvhodnější metodu z výše zmíněných, která dokáže nejlépe odhadnout koeficienty systematického risku. Tyto koeficienty jsou dále použity pro zajištění rizika portfolií, které jsou vytvořeny z akcií obchodovaných na různých burzách- NYSE Composite a NASDAQ Composite. Na základě obdržených výsledků o výkonu zajištění rizika v každém portfoliu budeme schopni vyhodnotit, která z metod je nejvhodnější pro odhad systematické risku v modelu CAPM. Klíčová slova: CAPM, Systematický risk, Portfolio risk hedge, OLS, DCC MGARCH, SSF model JEL Classification: C22, C58, G11, G12, G15 Author's e-mail: danielsopov@email.cz Supervisor's e-mail: andrlikova@gmail.com

Interessado em fazer com que o seu capital gere lucros, o investidor ao optar por negociar ativos, fica sujeito aos riscos econômicos de qualquer negociação, pois não existe uma certeza quanto a valorização ou desvalorização de um ativo. Eis que surge o mercado futuro, em que é possível negociar contratos a fim de se proteger (hedge) dos riscos de perdas ou ganhos excessivos, fazendo com que a compra ou venda de ativos, seja justa para ambas as partes. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em estudar os processos de Lévy de puro salto de atividade finita, também conhecido como modelo de Poisson composto, e suas aplicações. Proposto pelo matemático francês Paul Pierre Lévy, os processos de Lévy tem como principal característica admitir saltos em sua trajetória, o que é frequentemente observado no mercado financeiro. Determinaremos uma estratégia de hedging no modelo de mercado com o processo de Poisson composto via o conceito de mean-variance hedging e princípio da programação dinâmica. / The investor, that negotiate assets, is subject to economic risks of any negotiation because there is no certainty regarding the appreciation or depreciation of an asset. Here comes the futures market, where contracts can be negotiated in order to protect (hedge) the risk of excessive losses or gains, making the purchase or sale assets, fair for both sides. The goal of this work consist in study Lévy pure-jump process with finite activity, also known as compound Poisson process, and its applications. Discovered by the French mathematician Paul Pierre Lévy, the Lévy processes admits jumps in paths, which is often observed in financial markets. We will define a hedging strategy for a market model with compound Poisson process using mean-variance hedging and dynamic programming.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Main objective of this paper is to outline the use of derivative instruments for elimination of entity's risks with option of using so called hedge accounting. It uses international financial reporting standards (IFRS) as base, because it is the main "force" in this area nowadays and these standards are more or less used in national accounting standards as well. Core of this paper is identification of most used derivatives (types,frame,use) with a hint how to book them with application of hedge accounting. According to IFRS, there is also a need to test the effectiveness of the hedging using different methods. However, methods which should be used to test effectiveness of hedging are not specified so in the text you can find primary, most preferred methods with practical examples.

This thesis uses a new institutional sociology perspective to examine financial risk management practices adopted by Saudi listed companies and identify the factors that influence these practices. In Islamic shariah law, using conventional derivatives is prohibited and so this thesis aims to determine if there is an institutional logic within the organisational field and a community of practice that results from networks of actors. The study also, examines the effect of different types of coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic pressures on the adoption of risk management practices by Saudi listed companies. For this purpose, two pieces of empirical work are employed, (i) semi- structured interviews; and (ii) statistical tests. The interviews were held with 22 treasury managers of Saudi listed companies in 2011 to explore their perspectives of financial risk management practices. The second empirical work uses binary logistic regression to test the factors that might affect the adoption of financial risk management practices of 132 listed companies using publicly available data in 2011. Most of the previous studies relating to financial risk management practices have been undertaken in developing countries Therefore, there is a need to expand the scope of existing research by investigating such practices in Islamic countries to test the relevance of existing theory there and to enrich the risk financial management literature. This thesis investigate 12 factors: (the influence of political factors, cultural factors, and the competitive environment in Saudi society as well as nine institutional characteristics, comprising: firm size; profitability; leverage; being an Islamic company; auditor type; industrial sector; ownership structure; number of subsidiaries and exports) to identify to what extent they affect the financial risk management practices in the organisational field. The main findings indicate that Saudi listed companies hedge more interest rate risk than other financial risks, using conventional derivatives contracts which are prohibited in Islam. This finding is surprising in a country such as Saudi Arabia that is regulated and dominated by Shariah law. The political, cultural and competitive environments also affect the financial risk management practices in the organisational field. In addition, firm size in Saudi Arabia is related to interest rate risk and foreign exchange rate risk; also more leveraged companies and companies audited by Big-4 firms hedge interest rate risk. In addition, Islamic companies depend on Islamic derivatives that are available to hedge financial risk. Furthermore, the profitability of companies, industrial sector and their ownership structure has little influence on the risk management practices in Saudi listed companies. Finally, having subsidiaries and exports also affects hedging practices. It seems that actors are involved in similar networks and that considerable boundary-spanning takes place across these networks especially by treasury managers. This results in several different communities of practice with different organisational logics.

To counter the problem of the volatility of jet fuel prices within the United States, many financial managers of U.S. airlines use hedging as a financial tool to mitigate the risk of exposure to market price volatility. However, their efforts often lead to financial distress for their airlines. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore U.S. airline managers' use of financial hedging to reduce the risk of exposure from the volatility of jet fuel prices. The conceptual framework was Simkowitz's theory of modern finance, which concerns debt policy, dividend policy, and investment policy as they relate to financial decision making by upper management. The research questions addressed when, why, and how U.S. airline financial managers would consider the use of hedging as a financial tool to mitigate the risk in the purchase of jet fuel at times of lower jet fuel prices. Interviews with a purposive sample of 20 U.S. airline financial managers provided data for analysis and theory development of jet fuel hedging utilization in the U.S. airline industry. Data analysis using the constant comparative method enabled the development of a theory of jet fuel hedging utilization. Participants reported using over-the-counter derivatives purchasing strategies as a form of hedging to protect their airlines against spikes in jet fuel prices on the open market. Using study findings, managers may be able to reduce jet fuel operating costs in the U.S. airline industry. Implications for positive social change include potentially higher profits and more jobs as well as lower consumer prices.

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<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Recent years’ globalization and expanding currency markets have increased the importance of financial managers.  A multinational company handles different currencies through export and imports, and is thus exposed to currency fluctuations. Awareness and assessment of risk management are issues more important not to ignore.</p><p><strong>Research question:</strong> <em>How does the multinational company SCA indentify currency risk exposure, and how does the financial management relate to it?</em></p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The aim of this study is to get a deeper understanding of the currency risk management at a Swedish multinational company and how the individual manager identifies exposure. Furthermore, what means that exist for assessing the exposure and how the management choose to reduce the risk will be investigated.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> This case study has a qualitative approach, and is mainly based on two unstructured interviews that have been conducted with the financial mangers of SCA.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> The authors found that SCA identifies different kinds of exposures related to currency risk. SCA is equipped with organizational strategies as well as practical methods for reducing the risk exposure and positioning themselves in line with company framework and policies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:                   Currency risk management is a subject of great complexity since exposures interrelate and alternates with time and as global economy changes. A company could hold a framework of policies, strategies and instruments that will provide their financial managers with means for risk assessment and management. Ultimately the responsibility is still in the hand of the managers.</p>

<p>Title: Corporate Strategies for Currency Risk Management</p><p>ackground:Currency fluctuations are a global phenomenon, and can affect multinational</p><p>companies directly through their cash flow, financial result and company</p><p>valuation. The exposure to currency risks might however be covered against or</p><p>‘hedged’, as it is called, by different external and internal corporate strategies.</p><p>However, some of these strategies might include a risk themselves as they can</p><p>be expensive and uncertain. It is therefore an interesting question whether if</p><p>these strategies are actually applied in practice, and if so which strategies are</p><p>favored and why.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present and explain the different external and</p><p>internal hedging techniques and to see which, or if any, strategies are favored by</p><p>large, medium-sized and small companies and for what reasons.</p><p>Method: Regarding primary data, interviews with a mostly qualitative profile have been</p><p>used to discuss the subject with respondents from six companies, diversified in</p><p>size using the classification from the European Commission. Secondary data has</p><p>been collected through literature from the university library and internet sources.</p><p>Conclusion: Large companies primarily use the strategy of forwards, since they carry high</p><p>elements of risk aversion, predictability and simplicity. For internal strategies,</p><p>large companies prefer netting. Small companies extensively use matching</p><p>because the routine is easy to establish and handle. Medium-sized companies</p><p>can use either one so much depends on the risk-aversion and cash-flow</p><p>management of the company.</p><p>Large companies continuously regard currency risk a big factor, whereas small</p><p>companies have just recently started due to the dollar depreciation. Translation</p><p>exposure should be considered a big risk regardless of the company size, if the</p><p>company is the main one in a corporate group. Finally, the subject of</p><p>currency risk management is very theoretically broad, but its appliance in</p><p>practice is very slim as only a few strategies are actually favored and frequently</p><p>used.</p>