Emerging ESG studies have established a negative equilibrium correlation between ESG factors and stock returns in an economy predominately influenced by investors with nonpecuniary preference over high ESG credentials. However, little research has delved into a potential systematic liquidity risk phenomenon associated with aggregate trading activities of ESG-motivated investors who share a common nonzero ESG preference component in their utility function. Focusing on the carbon footprint metric of ESG factors, this thesis aims to investigate the potential existence of an ESG-specific component in liquidity commonality among equities listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, with a key assumption being that the average investor active on the Swedish equity market is cognizant of emission data and willing to forgo financial returns for positive externalities. Using a calibrated portfolio sorting technique and a set of time series regression models, the thesis uncovers novel evidence of liquidity synchronicity among ESG-unfavorable stocks. Additionally, the results indicate that liquidity dynamics of ESG frontrunners tend to be reflective of firm level characteristics. These findings remain robust even after controlling for market-wide driving forces, industry effects, and nonsynchronous liquidity co-movements etc. Investors prioritizing climate efforts may have tilted their capital away from emission laggards which give rise to a “flight to climate” effect on stock liquidity synchronicity among brown equities. Their resultant constrained investor base may lead to simultaneous liquidity oscillation as observed. Notwithstanding, the thesis does not measure explicit mechanisms through which ESG factors impact stock liquidity commonality, leaving this as a topic for future research.

Dividend policy, its determinants, and its impact on firm value are of significant academic interest, and many theories and explanations have been posited on the subject over the years, but there has not been a universal agreement. This thesis examines the links between dividend policy, various aspects of stock liquidity and price informativeness. We study a sample of UK firms over the period from 1996-2013. We show that, on average, stocks of dividend payers have significantly lower bid–ask spread and a lower illiquidity ratio than their counterparts of non-dividend payers. We also find that stocks of high-dividend payers are more liquid than those of firms that pay low or no dividends. These findings are consistent with the predictions of asymmetric information that posit that paying dividends reveals inside information to the market and hence decreases the level of asymmetric information, leading to higher stock liquidity. In the subsequent analysis, we suggest and examine a new channel through which dividend policy can impact firm value. Specifically, we show that dividend payers are less exposed to shocks in the aggregate market liquidity than non-dividend payers. Similarly, we find that the systematic liquidity risk is negatively associated with amount of dividends. Finally, in the context of signalling and agency costs models, we show that dividends are negatively related to stock price informativeness and that this relationship is stronger for firms with lower stock liquidity. The findings imply that dividend policy can both affect and be affected by stock markets. / University of Bradford

This study examined the determinants of commercial bank liquidity in South Africa. The panel regression approach was used, applying panel data from twelve commercial banks over the period 2006 to 2016. A quantitative research method was used to investigate the relationship between bank liquidity and some microeconomic and bank-specific factors and between bank liquidity and selected macro-economic factors. The regression analysis for four liquidity ratios was conducted using the pooled ordinary least squares regression, fixed effects, random effects and the generalised methods of moments. However, the system generalised methods of moments approach was preferred over the other methods because it eliminated the problem of endogeneity. Results show that capital adequacy, size and gross domestic product have a positive and significant effect on liquidity. Loan growth and non-performing loans had a negative and significant effect on liquidity. Inflation had both a positive and a negative but an insignificant effect on liquidity. The study concluded that South African banks could enhance their liquidity positions by tightening their loan-underwriting criteria and credit policies. Banks should improve their credit risk management frameworks to be more prudent in their lending practices to improve the quality of the loan book to enhance liquidity. They also need to grow their capital levels by embarking on efficient revenue enhancements activities. Banks may also to look at their clients on an overall basis and not on transaction bases, and they need to improve non-interest revenue by introducing innovated products. The South African Reserve Bank could push for policies that might enhance capitalisation by ensuring that the sector is consolidated and thus merging smaller banks to create banks with stronger balance sheets and stronger capital base. This study contributes to the empirical research repository on the determinants of liquidity and more specifically, it identified the significant factors that affect South African commercial bank liquidity. Identifying the determinants of South African commercial bank liquidity will provide the South African Reserve Bank with insight into ways of enhancing liquidity management reforms, to improve the sector’s liquidity management practices and help to maintain a sound and liquid banking sector. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

This dissertation presents a liquidity stress-testing model for evaluating liquidity and systemic risk in banks from developed and emerging economies respectively. The model further relies on simulations to generate liquidity buffer losses for both a non-crisis and crisis period as well. The emerging economy is represented by South Africa (SA) and the developed economy by the United Kingdom (henceforth UK). The Liquidity Stress Tester model (LST) has been successfully applied to both the Dutch and UK markets in previous research. The model's flexibility and adaptability allows it to assess different banking systems and different reactions (buffer restoration and leverage targeting) of participants within these milieus. The LST considers feedback effects arising from bank reactions and allows for the assessment of severely stressed haircuts and systemic risk increases caused by reputation degradation and increased contagion from other banks. Losses stemming from the second round effects of a liquidity event are explored through the reactions conducted by banks in the banking system. The study conducts a review of liquidity risk models utilised in previous research. Characteristics of these models and the data they used are highlighted, shedding light on the advantages and shortcomings of these models. Possible restrictions in liquidity risk management are also explored. The study discusses the relevance of the South African/UK economies' comparison, as well as the selected periods chosen for investigation. To assist further research with the LST, the study illustrates and discusses how it is modelled and developed in Microsoft Office Excel. The results obtained illustrate the potential severity of second round feedback effects of a liquidity event on liquidity positions in banks. The effects of mitigating actions conducted by banking institutions reacting to initial liquidity stress shocks are explored, as well as the way these actions could potentially affect second round effects on banks. The analysis and discussion of simulated results attempts to isolate and identify characteristics of economies and periods used that may have contributed to specific liquidity events. The study concludes with a summary of the research and suggestions for possible future work and development using the LST. / MCom (Risk Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This dissertation presents a liquidity stress-testing model for evaluating liquidity and systemic risk in banks from developed and emerging economies respectively. The model further relies on simulations to generate liquidity buffer losses for both a non-crisis and crisis period as well. The emerging economy is represented by South Africa (SA) and the developed economy by the United Kingdom (henceforth UK). The Liquidity Stress Tester model (LST) has been successfully applied to both the Dutch and UK markets in previous research. The model's flexibility and adaptability allows it to assess different banking systems and different reactions (buffer restoration and leverage targeting) of participants within these milieus. The LST considers feedback effects arising from bank reactions and allows for the assessment of severely stressed haircuts and systemic risk increases caused by reputation degradation and increased contagion from other banks. Losses stemming from the second round effects of a liquidity event are explored through the reactions conducted by banks in the banking system. The study conducts a review of liquidity risk models utilised in previous research. Characteristics of these models and the data they used are highlighted, shedding light on the advantages and shortcomings of these models. Possible restrictions in liquidity risk management are also explored. The study discusses the relevance of the South African/UK economies' comparison, as well as the selected periods chosen for investigation. To assist further research with the LST, the study illustrates and discusses how it is modelled and developed in Microsoft Office Excel. The results obtained illustrate the potential severity of second round feedback effects of a liquidity event on liquidity positions in banks. The effects of mitigating actions conducted by banking institutions reacting to initial liquidity stress shocks are explored, as well as the way these actions could potentially affect second round effects on banks. The analysis and discussion of simulated results attempts to isolate and identify characteristics of economies and periods used that may have contributed to specific liquidity events. The study concludes with a summary of the research and suggestions for possible future work and development using the LST. / MCom (Risk Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan aktiers likviditet och avkastning. Metod: Vår studie består av en kvantitativ metod där vi med hjälp av databasen Eikon från Thomson Reuters samlat in finansiella data. Vi har sedan med hjälp av Excel sammanställt och gjort beräkningar och slutligen gjort korrelationstester i statistikprogrammet SPSS. Resultat och slutsats: Studien skiljer sig från tidigare forskningsresultat då ingen signifikant likviditetspremie kan fastställas vid årlig ombalansering av portföljerna. När portföljerna behåller samma aktier under hela tidsperioden (6 år) finner vi däremot att den minst likvida portföljen genererar betydligt högre avkastning jämfört med den mest likvida portföljen. Bidrag: Studiens teoretiska bidrag stärker tidigare forskningsresultat om att beta inte är ett komplett riskmått vad gäller illikvida aktier. Ingen likviditetspremie uppkommer då innehavsperioden är ett år men då vår innehavsperiod istället är sex år finner vi stora skillnader mellan vår minst respektive mest likvida portfölj. Studiens praktiska bidrag riktar sig till investerare och företagsledare. Investerare kan vid längre tidsperioder nyttja LM12 som en investeringsstrategi för att skapa en överavkastning och företagsledare kan undersöka nyttan med att öka likviditeten i företagets aktier för att sänka företagets WACC och därmed öka värdet på företaget.  Förslag till vidare forskning: För att studera aktielikviditeten vidare skulle andra innehavsperioder (längre än ett år) för portföljerna kunna undersökas. Att undersöka längre tidsperioder för studien hade också varit intressant för att undersöka hur likviditetspremien varierar över tid. / Aim: The aim is to examine if there is a relationship between the liquidity and return of common stocks.  Method: This study consists of quantitative research method in which we have collected financial data using the Eikon database from Thomson Reuters. We then compiled and made calculations using Excel and finally made correlation tests in the statistics program SPSS. Result and conclusion: The results from this study differs from previous research results since no significant liquidity premium could be determined while using annual rebalancing of the portfolios. When the portfolios held the same stocks for the entire period (6 years), we found that the least liquid portfolio generated significantly higher returns compared to the most liquid portfolio.  Contribution of the thesis: The study's theoretical contribution strengthens previous research results in that beta is not a complete risk measure in terms of illiquid shares. No liquidity premium arises when the holding period is one year, but when our holding period is instead six years, we find great differences between our least and most liquid portfolio. The practical contribution of the study is aimed at investors and business leaders. Investors can use LM12 as an investment strategy to create an excess return during long holding periods, and business leaders can examine the benefits of increasing the liquidity of the company's common stock to lower the company's WACC and hence increase the value of the company. Suggestion for future research: In order to study the liquidity premium further, other holding periods (longer than one year) for the portfolios could be investigated. Investigating longer time periods for the study would also be interesting to investigate how the liquidity premium varies over time.

Le risque de liquidité des banques reflète leur fonction de création de liquidité. Ces institutions sont fragiles par nature, exposées à la menace de ruées des créanciers de court terme. La thèse contribue par plusieurs aspects à une meilleure compréhension du risque de liquidité. Le deuxième chapitre propose une mesure de la fragilité bancaire basée sur la valeur des actifs détenus. Les résultats confirment de manière originale le caractère fragile des banques. La fonction de production de liquidité bancaire est toutefois bénéfique pour l’économie. Le troisième chapitre propose une analyse de la capacité des banques à produire de la liquidité en lien avec leurs choix d’activité et leur business model. La production d’information dans le cadre d’un modèle relationnel et la capacité à bénéficier de synergies informationnelles entre segments d’activité apparaissent comme déterminant l’efficacité de la production de liquidité bancaire. Néanmoins, l’exposition excessive des banques au risque de liquidité est à l’origine des crises. Le quatrième chapitre évalue l’exposition des banques au risque de liquidité en fonction de l’évolution des conditions générales de liquidité. Les résultats soulignent l’impact différencié des chocs de liquidité sur le risque supporté par les banques. / Bank liquidity risk reflects the function of banks to create liquidity. Banks are fragile, exposed to the possibility of runs from short-term creditors. This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of bank liquidity risk. The second chapter proposes a measure of bank fragility based on the value of the assets held by a bank. Results confirm, in an original way, the fragile nature of banks. However, bank liquidity creation benefits to the economy. The third chapter analyses the capacity of banks to produce liquidity in conjunction with their choices in terms of activity and business model. Determinants of the efficiency to produce liquidity appear to be the bank capacity to produce information through a relationship-oriented business model and to benefit from informational synergies through the activity mix. Nevertheless, excessive exposition of banks to liquidity risk results in bank liquidity crises. The fourth chapter investigates bank exposition to liquidity risk depending on the evolution of aggregate liquidity conditions. Results underline the heterogenous effect of liquidity shocks on the risk borne by banks.

This study investigates the association between traditional and alternative working capital measures and the returns of industrial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock E"change. Twenty five variables for all industrial firms listed for the most recent 10 years were derived from standardised annual balance sheet data of the University of Pretoria's Bureau of Financial Analysis. Traditional liquidity ratios measuring working capital position, activity and leverage, and alternative liquidity measures, were calculated for each of the 135 participating firms for the 1 0 years. These working capital measures were tested for association with five return measures for every firm over the same period. This was done by means of a chi-square test for association, followed by stepwise multiple regression undertaken to quantify the underlying structural relationships between the return measures and the working capital measures. The results of the tests indicated that the traditional working capital leverage measures, in particular, total current liabilities divided by funds flow, and to a lesser e"tent, long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, displayed the greatest associations, and e"plained the majority of the variance in the return measures. At-test, undertaken to analyse the size effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms, compared firms according to total assets. The results revealed significant differences between the means of the top quartile of firms and the bottom quartile, for eight of the 13 working capital measures included in the study. A nonparametric test was applied to evaluate the sector effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms. The rank scores indicated significant differences in the means across the sectors for si" of the 13 working capital measures. A decrease in the working capital leverage measures of current liabilities divided by funds flow, and long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, should signal an increase in returns, and vice versa. It is recommended that financial managers consider these findings when forecasting firm returns. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

我們在此文中檢視了股市流動性的動能效果，並將此效果連結到相對應股票的報酬表現上。我們發現過去六個月平均流動性較高的股票，在未來三年中也會具有較高的流動性。此外，我們發現買入較高流動性的股票，賣出流動性較低的股票，會有正的報酬。我們希望此研究能夠幫助投資人獲取更多有用的資訊。 / We examine the predictability of liquidity, the momentum effect in liquidity, and we also would like to link this effect to expected stock returns. We find that stocks with high liquidity in the past six month will be traded with high liquidity in the future (within 3 years) and that all of the zero-cost portfolios, which buy high liquidity stocks and sell low liquidity stocks, have positive returns. We hope the results in this study will help uninformed trader to obtain more information in the stock market.

This thesis is a collection of essays where I explore and extend the study of the role of financial frictions for the determination of asset prices, financial stability, and economic resilience. The frictions included in the analysis are individual and aggregate uncertainty, agent heterogeneity, money, liquidity and default. The first essay is an empirical study that motivates my research objectives. This work starts with the exploration of the role of liquidity on asset prices, specifically on sovereign bonds of emerging countries. I present a comprehensive model where I developed a novel methodology for finding the role of liquidity in the determination of asset prices during the financial crisis. In the second essay, illuminated by the empirical findings, I apply and expand the general equilibrium theory of money, default and financial stability. The contributions at the theoretical level are the extension of two-period model with discrete state space to the infinite horizon dynamic stochastic setting, and the inclusion of liquidity restrictions. In the third essay, I further extend this framework, allowing for production technology and endogenous market liquidity. Given the theoretical setting, I have analyzed the responses of financial stability and economic performance variables to real and financial shocks. Finally, in the fourth essay I produce an empirical application of this work. I apply a novel semi-parametric financial stability metric, and evaluate its relevance for the determination of asset prices, in the presence of liquidity restrictions. As a result, this thesis suggest plausible explanations for financial and economic issues that conventional models have not dealt with adequately.