Bachelor-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2004.

This study shows that investor sentiment plays an important role in affecting the pricing dynamics between the spot and futures markets. The empirical evidence suggests that investor sentiment has a positive impact on price volatility and the bid–ask spread on both the spot and futures markets, which induces higher arbitrage risk and trading costs during high sentiment periods. As a consequence, during high sentiment periods, informed traders become less willing to leverage their information advantages on the futures market, which diminishes the futures markets’ leading informational role and contributions to price discovery. My findings provide support for the theory of limits to arbitrage.

abstract: Responding to the allegedly biased research reports issued by large investment banks, the Global Research Analyst Settlement and related regulations went to great lengths to weaken the conflicts of interest faced by investment bank analysts. In this paper, I investigate the effects of these changes on small and large investor confidence and on trading profitability. Specifically, I examine abnormal trading volumes generated by small and large investors in response to security analyst recommendations and the resulting abnormal market returns generated. I find an overall increase in investor confidence in the post-regulation period relative to the pre-regulation period consistent with a reduction in existing conflicts of interest. The change in confidence observed is particularly striking for small traders. I also find that small trader profitability has increased in the post-regulation period relative to the pre-regulation period whereas that for large traders has decreased. These results are consistent with the Securities and Exchange Commission's primary mission to protect small investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Accountancy 2011

Doctor Legum - LLD / Currently most international investment disputes are settled through arbitration. The origin of this dispute settlement system can be associated with the recent proliferation of over 3000 Bilateral Investment Treaties. Through this system disputes are settled by autonomous and differently constituted tribunals which have powers to render final and binding awards. The dissatisfied party has very limited opportunity to challenge the rendered award as there are no higher bodies in the hierarchy where a dissatisfied party can lodge an appeal, save for limited procedural challenges which are allowed under the system. These differently constituted tribunals at times reach diametrically opposed decisions on similar facts and those decisions stand side by side and all are considered valid. These inconsistent decisions are leading to lack of consistency and uniformity which in turn affects the legitimacy of the system as a whole. The rules of these institutions do not allow the proceedings to be held in public despite the fact that at times these tribunals question the regulatory powers of the state and state measures on service provision to its citizens. Another issue under the current system is that due to lack of coordination, arbitrators play dual roles: as counsels and arbitrators. This practice compromises the cherished principle of the rule of law. In the effort to address these concerns, stakeholders have suggested a number of possible solutions. The suggested solutions include: invoking res judicata and lis pendens principles; adopting the doctrine of precedent; applying the ‘fork in the road’ principle; adopting the margin of appreciation standard in interpretation of BITs; creating an appellate structure at ICSID and creating a treaty to treaty appellate body. This research submits that, the suggested solutions singularly and cumulatively don not address the legitimacy issues adequately. The research therefore calls for the establishment of a Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in order to address the legitimacy issues cumulatively. It is submitted that establishing a Multilateral Investment Agreement (MAI) which provides for creating a standing international investment court with an appellate court is the only solution which addresses all the issues haunting the international investment dispute settlement system. In addition, the research suggests interim solutions which will help to increase the legitimacy of the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The interim solutions include: establishment of the investor – state dispute adjudication Centre; effective utilisation of host state courts; mandatory publication of all awards; enhancing the effective use of member states interpretative statement; and forming a working commission to provide basic interpretation and the scope of the basic international investment law principles. These measures are only meant to improve the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The research concludes that for the betterment of international investment law, the reform is inevitable and that the benefits would outweigh any demerits.

This master thesis deals with an investment topic that is focused on real estates. In order to compare these investments with their possible alternatives in terms of returns and risks there are also mentioned investment options in selected stocks, bonds and commodities. The comparison of return and risk results in a creation of comprehensive portfolios compiled for the specific investor profile, depending on his risk tolerance. Based on analysis outcomes and economic development forecasts the recommendations how to invest in a current market situation of the Czech Republic as well as major world economies are given in the thesis.

abstract: In this study I investigate the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which strategic investors can help a firm improve performance. Many commercial banks in China have recently invited foreign banks as strategic investors since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), hoping to gain managerial and technological knowhow from the foreign banks. Using Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as a representative example, I conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis about how the joining of Citi Bank as a strategic investor has helped the local Chinese bank improve its financial performance. On the basis of a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, I first develop a theoretical model that describes the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which foreign strategic investors can influence the local bank’s performance. Specifically, by participation in corporate governance, the foreign strategic investor can have a positive influence over the local bank’s strategy development, operational targets, incentive systems, and organizational culture, which consequently lead to improvements in the local banks operations and financial performance. I then use a case study method to substantiate the logic and the pathways of the model with the detailed information collected from the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Citi Bank strategic alliance. The results are consistent with the model’s descriptive validity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

Thesis (MTech (Public Relations Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Investor Relations (IR) has become a key area of focus in academic and professional debates over the last few decades. Although the identity of the field is contested, with both finance and communication disciplines claiming the fledgling field, there is consensus across disciplines that communication is paramount in IR success. However, a number of scholars (see Schutzmann, 2013; Laskin, 2011; Watson, 2008) argue that IR is not being fully utilised to maximise fair valuation and obtain favourable return on company investments due to lack of strategic communication expertise among IR practitioners who usually have a purely financial background. It is against this background that this study evaluated communication strategies employed by IR practitioners in South Africa to build and maintain relationships with investor stakeholders. The purpose is to contribute towards theoretical debates on strategic communication practice in IR, an area that remains under theorised and understudied, especially within a developing country context. The theoretical frame of the study was derived from public relations Excellence theory and the two-way symmetrical communication (Grunig and Hunt, 1984). The research methodology of the study was qualitative and employed an explorative design to gather data through a combination of document analysis, indepth interviews and content analysis. The findings show that financial and non-financial information is disseminated to investor stakeholders. However, the communication of financial information by IR professionals to investor stakeholders remains dominant in South Africa. Importantly, two-way symmetrical communication and two-way asymmetrical communication strategies are used in different ways to build and maintain relationships and to disclose mandatory key corporate information to investor stakeholders. One-on-one meetings in different formats and online dialogue with closed feedback emerged as the dominant key two-way symmetrical communication strategies of nurturing and sustaining relationships with investor stakeholders. This includes two-way asymmetrical communication strategies such as the corporate publications and IR websites. IR policies that promote two-way symmetrical communication, trust, honest, transparency and credibility emerged in the study as being implemented by IR professionals of South Africa. In addition, the findings show that such characterised IR policies advances the rules of investor stakeholder relationship building and engagement. However, it remains unclear from a South African standpoint whether IR professionals are ready to engage in an open dialogue with investor stakeholders using social media. The findings show that IR in South Africa has trascended into a synergy era where two-way symmetrical communication is emphasised. It further shows that the theoretical frame of the study as derived from public relations Excellence theory and the two-way symmetrical communication (Grunig and Hunt, 1984) has positive implications in the investor relations efforts of building relationships and information disclosure. However, investor stakeholder preferences of engaging with IR professionals require further exploration. This will assist in theorising communication strategies ideal for IR practice.

We analyze which utility function would best represent the Brazilian representative investor with a one-month investment horizon who has to allocate his wealth across three main asset classes (bonds, equities, and risk free). To do this, we compute the optimal portfolio weights by considering four different specifications for the utility function: (i) mean-variance, (ii) constant relative risk aversion (expected utility functions), (iii) ambiguity aversion, and (iv) loss aversion (non-expected utility functions). We compare the optimal portfolio weights to the empirical portfolio - computed by considering the market value of all the assets in our sample - using the Mahalanobis distance. Our results indicate that the traditional utility function, the mean-variance utility, should not be used to represent the behavior of the Brazilian investor. All other utilities are statistically equal and could be used to compute optimal portfolios for the Brazilian investor. However, the constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) and the ambiguity aversion functions are only justified for extremely high levels of risk aversion. As the loss averse function showed the lowest Mahalanobis distance, we propose that the Brazilian investor is best represented by a utility function that incorporates aversion to losses, in which the decrease of utility caused by a loss is much greater than the increase caused by a gain of equal magnitude. Moreover, this different impact of gains and losses on the investor\'s utility leads individuals to behave as investors with high risk aversion and justifies the fact that loss-aversion preferences have also been widely used to explain why the high risk premium might be consistent with high levels of risk aversion. / Analisamos qual função utilidade representa melhor o investidor representativo brasileiro que aloca sua riqueza em três principais classes de ativos (títulos, ações e livre de risco) e com um horizonte de investimento de um mês. Para isso, calculamos os pesos ótimos do portfólio considerando quatro especificações diferentes para a função utilidade: (i) média-variância, (ii) aversão relativa ao risco constante (funções utilidade esperadas), (iii) aversão à ambiguidade, (iv) aversão à perdas (funções utilidade não esperadas). Comparamos os pesos do portfólio ótimo com o portfólio empírico - calculado considerando o valor de mercado de todos os ativos em nossa amostra - usando a distância de Mahalanobis. Nossos resultados indicam que a função utilidade tradicional de média-variância não deve ser utilizada para representar o comportamento do investidor brasileiro. Todas as demais especificações de função utilidade são estatisticamente iguais e podem ser utilizadas para computar o portfólio ótimo do investidor brasileiro. Entretanto, as funções CRRA e de aversão à ambiguidade são justificadas apenas com níveis extremamente elevados de aversão ao risco. Como o portfólio ótimo com função utilidade do tipo aversão à perdas apresentou a menor distância de Mahalanobis, propomos que o investidor brasileiro é melhor representado por uma função que incorpora aversão à perdas, em que a diminuição da utilidade causada por uma perda é muito maior do que o aumento causado por um ganho de igual magnitude. Além disso, esse impacto diferente de ganhos e perdas na utilidade do investidor leva os indivíduos a comportar-se como investidores com grande aversão ao risco e justifica o fato de que as preferências de aversão à perdas também foram amplamente utilizadas para explicar por que o prêmio de risco pode ser consistente com altos níveis de aversão ao risco.

As startups, caracterizadas pela proposta de oferecer um produto ou serviço inovador, com alto grau de incerteza de sucesso, normalmente têm a necessidade de financiamento por capital externo para que consigam atingir seu crescimento. Em razão das incertezas que cercam uma empresa startup, normalmente, são raros os financiamentos disponíveis por bancos ou empresas financeiras. Como forma de suprir este buraco no financiamento de startups, encontram-se os investidores anjo, investidores individuais que caracterizam-se por investirem seu próprio capital em startups, em troca de percentuais na gestão da empresa. O perfil destes investidores anjo têm sido objeto de estudo em diversos países, principalmente no entendimento dos critérios que estes investidores utilizam para chegar à decisão de investimento. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre os critérios utilizados pelos investidores anjo brasileiros para decisão de investirem em startups. Desta forma, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar os critérios que determinam a decisão de Investidores Anjo brasileiros em investirem em startups. A fim de cumprir os objetivos desta pesquisa, a metodologia foi estruturada na natureza exploratório-descritiva com abordagem qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas junto a investidores anjo e especialistas, onde são analisadas a importância dada pelos entrevistados aos 17 critérios de decisão de investimento mais citados por investidores anjo na literatura internacional, bem como os critérios classificados como mais importantes. Observou-se que os investidores anjo brasileiros assemelham-se aos de outros países ao darem importância a grande maioria dos critérios levantados. Os critérios citados de maior importância foram de \"rentabilidade real\", \"interesse e benefícios do produto\", \"inovação e qualidade do produto\" e \"ROI/valorização\". Foi possível identificar similaridade entre investidores anjo brasileiros e investidores anjo de outros países acerca da importância dos critérios de decisão identificados na literatura. A pesquisa identificou limitações acerca do acesso aos investidores anjo brasileiros, de informações na literatura nacional e de informações sobre o perfil dos investidores anjo no Brasil. Notou-se que o investidor anjo ainda é pouco estudado pelos pesquisadores brasileiros, não sendo possível identificar muitas pesquisas sobre este tema. Esta pesquisa contribui ao ser um passo para o entendimento de um contexto ainda pouco explorado, o processo de decisão de investimento de investidores anjo em startups, bem como ao identificar os critérios de decisão de investimento considerados importantes pelos investidores anjo brasileiros. / Startups, characterized by the proposal to offer an innovative product or service with a high degree of uncertainty of success, usually have the need for foreign capital financing to help them reach their growth. Given the uncertainties surrounding a startup company, seldom are there funds available from banks or financial companies. In order to meet this gap in startups financing, one can find business angels, who are individual investors characterized by investing their own capital in startups. What they ask in return is a percentage in the company\'s management. The profile of these business angels has been studied in several countries, especially in the understanding of the criteria that these investors use to reach the investment decision. However, little is known about the criteria used by brazilian angel investors as far as this decision to invest in startups is concerned. Thus, the current study aims at analyzing the criteria that determine the brazilian business angels\' decision to invest in startups. In order to meet the objectives of this research, the methodology was structured in exploratory and descriptive qualitative approach. Data collection was performed through interviews with business angels and experts, where there was an analysis of the importance given by these respondents to the seventeen investment decision criteria most frequently cited by business angels in the international literature, as well as the criteria rated as the most important ones. It was observed that brazilian business angels are similar to those from other countries as they acknowledge importance to the majority of surveyed criteria. The most important criteria cited were \"realistic profitability\", \"interest and benefits of the product\", \"innovation and product quality\" and \"ROI/valuation\". It was possible to identify similarities between brazilian business angels and angels from other countries concerning the importance of decision criteria identified in the literature. The research spotted limitations concerning the access to brazilian business angels, on the national literature and information on the profile of business angels in Brazil. It was observed that the business angel is still little studied by brazilian researchers, what makes it unable to identify a lot of research on this topic. This research contributes for being a step towards the understanding of a still little explored context, the process of investment decision by the angel investors in startups as well as to identify the investment decision criteria considered important by Brazilian angel investors.

M.Com. (Financial Management) / The idea that strategies should be judged by the economic value which is created in terms of them is well accepted in the business community. Based on surveys of practice there is, however, great uncertainty regarding the way in which strategies and subsequent company performance should be evaluated. The best measure of corporate success is therefore a vexed issue. Accounting numbers and ratios are generally perceived to be poor measures of changes in economic value. The problem can be said not to lie with accounting, but in its inappropriate use. Accounting measures are constrained by accrual accounting conventions and financial reporting objectives; they are not designed to measure changes in a finn's economic value. Some of the limitations are the fact that earnings can be computed in different ways (depending on management's choice of accounting policy), earnings do not reflect differences in risk and it ignores working capital and fixed capital investments. These shortcomings imply that traditional accounting measures (like earnings and earnings per share) are not reliably linked to increasing the value of the company's stock price. When a business wants to determine the economic value of an investment, it discounts the investment's forecast cash flow by the company's cost of capital. This technique, known as discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, is widely used in capital budgeting and lease versus buy decisions. Until recently, managers have generally been reluctant to extend the approach beyond piecemeal applications to an entire business plan. The shareholder value approach applies the DCF analysis to the business as a whole - treating it as a portfolio of cash-generating strategies...