Zugl.: Darmstadt, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2005.

This dissertation deals with the securities portfolio optimization. After introducing the definitions, I try to explain the particular investment instruments with regard to returns and risks. The following part provides a theory which tells more about different market risks and returns on the final securities portfolio. Concerning these models the effective portfolio has been set up.

The financial portfolio model often referred to as the Black-Litterman model is analyzed using two approaches; a mathematical and a behavioral finance approach. After a detailed description of its framework, the Black-Litterman model is derived mathematically using a sampling theoretical approach. This approach generates a new interpretation of the model and gives an interpretable formula for the mystical parameter τ, the weight-on-views. Secondly, implications are drawn from research results within behavioral finance. One of the most interesting features of the Black-Litterman model is that the benchmark portfolio, against which the performance of the portfolio manager is evaluated, functions as the point of reference. According to behavioral finance, the actual utility function of the investor is reference-based and investors estimate losses and gains in relation to this benchmark. Implications drawn from research results within behavioral finance indicate and explain why the portfolio output given by the Black-Litterman model appears more intuitive to fund managers than portfolios generated by the Markowitz model. Another feature of the Black-Litterman model is that the user assigns levels of confidence to each asset view in the form of confidence intervals. Research results within behavioral finance have, however, shown that people tend to be badly calibrated when estimating their levels of confidence. Research has shown that people are overconfident in financial decision-making, particularly when stating confidence intervals. This is problematic. For a deeper understanding of the use of the Black-Litterman model it seems that we should turn to those financial fields in which social and organizational context and issues are taken into consideration, to generate better knowledge of the use of the Black-Litterman model. / QC 20101119

The first part of this dissertation examines the impact of financial development on different countries holdings of U.S securities. The difference between the US weight in the global market capitalization and the US weight in developed and developing countries is tested through a panel data analysis. We find that most countries tend to overweight their US debt portfolio which is strongly related to their financial market development. When holdings of US debts and equity are low, financial market development is high; in developing countries, holding less US equity in their portfolio causes country to get better financial development. In developed countries there is no causation effect; a simple negative relation between financial development and countries holding of US securities is observed and countries tend to hold relatively less US securities through years. The second part of this dissertation examines whether economic conditions, affect carve-outs frequency and returns. This paper investigates the effect of expansion and recession, and industry sectors on carve out issued in the US over 1982 to 2009. We find that the number of carve-outs is higher in expansion than recession. However, the cumulative abnormal returns are higher during recession which is explained by the higher adverse selection during this period. Further, we find that the difference of abnormal returns between expansion and recession is significant and we also observe that high-tech or non-high-tech industries that undertake carve-out have positive higher abnormal return during recession. Therefore, within a same industry sector, carve-out abnormal returns are impacted by the economy cycle. However difference of abnormal returns between industry sector, high-tech and non-high-tech industries, is not significant.

<p>Background: The devolopment in the exchange market has attract a large number of investors. The information flow is extensive and it might be hard to follow the dynamic market. Some investors therefore choose to place their capital in a stock portfolio which is manged by a professional firm with no influence from the capital owner, this management is called discretionary managing. </p><p>Purpose: the purpose of the thesis is to examine the working methods and the rationality regarding the management of the discretionary portfolios. The purpose is also to try to examine whether there is a relation between the selected risk, return and fees. </p><p>Realization: in this thesis our primary data comes from interviews with portfolio managers. By means of snowball sample we found portfolio managers in banks and in stock broker firms. Anonymity has been used to promote the right information from our interviews. </p><p>Result: Discretionary portfolio management differ between banks and stock brokers. The managing in the banks has a passive investment strategy and the stock brokers has an active strategy. The chosen stategy characterize the selected risk, expected return and the required fees.</p>

Background: The devolopment in the exchange market has attract a large number of investors. The information flow is extensive and it might be hard to follow the dynamic market. Some investors therefore choose to place their capital in a stock portfolio which is manged by a professional firm with no influence from the capital owner, this management is called discretionary managing. Purpose: the purpose of the thesis is to examine the working methods and the rationality regarding the management of the discretionary portfolios. The purpose is also to try to examine whether there is a relation between the selected risk, return and fees. Realization: in this thesis our primary data comes from interviews with portfolio managers. By means of snowball sample we found portfolio managers in banks and in stock broker firms. Anonymity has been used to promote the right information from our interviews. Result: Discretionary portfolio management differ between banks and stock brokers. The managing in the banks has a passive investment strategy and the stock brokers has an active strategy. The chosen stategy characterize the selected risk, expected return and the required fees.

Problem When choosing topic for this study the economy was on the brink of a recession. Many experts made varying statements regarding this fact, and further readings in this area led us to question: can an in- clusion of gold enhance the performance in an index portfolio dur- ing recessions? And if so, how much should be allocated to gold? Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to look back at the historical price de- velopment of gold and DJIA during recessions in order to find out whether an inclusion of gold can improve a DJIA index portfolio held in today’s recession. In addition, by analyzing the risks and pos- sibilities with gold, the optimal allocation of gold in a DJIA portfolio will be investigated in.   Method The methodological approach will be of a quantitative data analysis approach. By using historical data, new empirical findings will be found by using the deductive approach. This method has been cho- sen due to the nature of the purpose and in order to best give a gen- eral answer to our research questions. Conclusion The gold price is strongly influenced by uncertainty, and even though an optimal allocation of gold in each recession could be found, no general optimal allocation applicable in today’s recession could be found. Gold has higher risk (higher variance) than DJIA, but is compensated with higher return as well.

Klausuren und Tests sind Prüfungsformen, die geeignet sind, die fachliche Kompetenz von Studierenden zu bewerten. Dabei sind es gerade soziale, personelle und methodische Kompetenzen, über die zukünftigen Lehrerinnen und Lehrer im Unterrichtsalltag verfügen sollten. E-Portfolios scheinen das Potential zu haben, Prüfungen offener und im ganzheitlichen Sinne kompetenzorientierter zu gestalten. Vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert Mehrwerte sowie problematische Aspekte bei der Einführung von E-Portfolio-Arbeit in der akademischen Ausbildung von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern und formuliert Empfehlungen für die erfolgreiche Implementierung dieser Methode und der notwendigen Werkzeuge. Dazu wird untersucht, welchen Stellenwert Portfolios und E-Portfolios derzeit in der Lehrerausbildung an der Technischen Universität Dresden haben, welche Software speziell für die vorherrschenden Rahmenbedingungen geeignet ist und welche positiven und negativen Aspekte bei der didaktischen Konzeption eines Lernszenarios mit E-Portfolio als Lern- und Prüfungsform zu berücksichtigen sind.

Purpose: The study examines the risk a rising from the acquisition of shares, and its relation to the expected return. We would like to see how a high-risk portfolio is related to a low-risk portfolio. Although studying the portfolios annual performance. Theory: The theories that have been used in the study are, Capital asset pricing model, CAPM and portfolio theory. Method: The study is based on a quantitative method, the time interval is from 2008 to 2010.The annual reports, historical stock prices for companies and the index are used to perform calculations based on the essay theories. Conclusion: The beta value has positive liner correlation with the expected return. When there are bad times in the world, the companies are negatively affected regardless of industry. The Portfolios developed in the same direction during the time period. / Syfte: Studien undersöker riskens förhållande till avkastningen som uppstår vid investering i aktier. Även hur en högriskportfölj förhåller sig till en lågriskportfölj samt portföljernas årliga utveckling. Teori: De teorier som använts i undersökningen är, Capital assets pricing model– CAPM och portföljteori. Metod: Studien utgår från en kvantitativ metod. Tidsintervallet är från år 2008 till 2010. Årsredovisningar, historiska aktiekurser för bolagen samt index används för att kunna genomföra uträkningar som baseras på uppsatsen teorier. Slutsats: Betavärdet har ett positivt linjärt samband med den förväntade kurstillväxt. Vid dåliga tider i världen drabbas alla bolag negativt oavsett bransch. Portföljerna utvecklades i samma riktning under tidsperioden.

<p><strong>Problem</strong></p><p>When choosing topic for this study the economy was on the brink of a recession. Many experts made varying statements regarding this fact, and further readings in this area led us to question: can an in- clusion of gold enhance the performance in an index portfolio dur- ing recessions? And if so, how much should be allocated to gold?</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong></p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to look back at the historical price de- velopment of gold and DJIA during recessions in order to find out whether an inclusion of gold can improve a DJIA index portfolio held in today’s recession. In addition, by analyzing the risks and pos- sibilities with gold, the optimal allocation of gold in a DJIA portfolio will be investigated in.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Method</strong></p><p>The methodological approach will be of a quantitative data analysis approach. By using historical data, new empirical findings will be found by using the deductive approach. This method has been cho- sen due to the nature of the purpose and in order to best give a gen- eral answer to our research questions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>The gold price is strongly influenced by uncertainty, and even though an optimal allocation of gold in each recession could be found, no general optimal allocation applicable in today’s recession could be found. Gold has higher risk (higher variance) than DJIA, but is compensated with higher return as well.</p>