The purpose of this thesis is to analyze real estate investments from the vantage point of an institutional multi asset investor perspective, both in terms of the potential benefits real estate can bring as well as the challenges it can pose. The thesis consists of six papers and approaches the research question from three distinct perspectives. The quantitative papers consists of paper 1 and 5. Paper 1 analyses the portfolio characteristics of domestic and international real estate in a mean variance framework over seven investor domiciles. It is found that the optimal allocation to real estate is in the range of 15-25 percent depending on domicile of the investor. The fifth paper expands the analysis in paper one by expanding the data. Furthermore, the analysis is extended to investigate how the structure of the real estate portfolio can support a diversification objectives best. Papers 2, 3 and 4 are the market related papers. Paper 2 compares the suggested allocation weights with the allocation to real estate of institutions in four countries, and finds that the actual allocation is significantly lower and that all investor domiciles have a significant home bias. The third paper discusses changes in the institutional framework of real estate markets and the size of the investment universe. Paper 4 discusses various entry points to the real estate market, and how an investor can utilize these in order to adjust the characteristics of the real estate portfolio. The sixth and last paper is qualitative, and investigates how institutions managing pension capital handle real estate. ​ / <p>QC 20161115</p>

Ph.D. / This thesis investigates the impact of domestic and foreign financial crises on volatility dynamics in South Africa. In a sample ranging from January 1994 to March 2009, Chapter 2 provides empirical support for the theory that domestic currency crises are associated with significant structural changes in daily exchange rate volatility. Speciacally, crisis periods coincide with large positive shifts in unconditional variance. Using this fact, we propose a new method - the structural change generalised conditional heteroskedasticity, or SC-GARCH, model - for identifying precise start- and end-dates for crises. Chapter 3 studies volatility transmission within SA from October 1996 to June 2010. Using a generalised version of the vector autoregressive (VAR) approach, time-varying and bidirectional volatility spillover indices are esti- mated for domestic currency, bond and equity markets. The results identify equities as the primary source of volatility transfer to other asset classes. At di erent points in time, spillovers are responsible for anywhere between 7.5 and 65 percent of system-wide volatility. Local maxima in spillover magni- tudes are estimated during domestic, as well as foreign crisis periods. Chapter 4 estimates time-varying comovement between SA and world volatilities during the period from 1994 to 2008. A dynamic factor model (FM) is used to extract three latent global volatility factors from a data panel which is representative of the world equity market portfolio. Relative to most other emerging markets, the global factors are poor predictors of volatility in SA. However, SA's comovement with global volatility increases sharply in response to emerging market crises in Asia (1997-8) and Russia (1998). The global factors are also important determinants of domestic volatility during the latter stages of the US subprime crisis (2007-8). Chapter 5 proposes the factor-augmented VAR as a parsimonious model for the transmission of foreign volatility shocks to SA equities. We compare international volatility transmission resulting from crises in Asia (1997-8) and the US (2007-8). Although the US crisis has a larger impact on the world equity market, the Asian shock leads to more dramatic increases in volatility in emerging economies, including SA.

The thesis is focused on the problem of endowment and its importance to the Foundation. The thesis examines the endowment as one of the essential characteristics of the Foundation of Law and Economics. Legal perspective focuses on legislative action endowment today, and the previous legislation. Investigates conditions for increasing the endowment, the possibility of using the endowment to create the Foundation ond proceeds to establish the conditions for the foundation. The thesis describes the procedure for increasing the endowment. The economic part is evaluated by a set of economi indicators that were identified from the results of operations of the Foundation. The resulting set of economic indicators is processed into graphs. Individual graphs show the specific economic indicators examined in relation to a set of foundations surveyed. The results are used to process the graphical analysis of the relationship of main economic indicators, the comparison can be concluded about the importance of the endowment for the comparison subjects.

The goal of this thesis is a detailed research on bases and processes of measurement and accounting of plant and livestock assets in Czech accounting legislation environment. The content of the thesis is also to introduce the topic of biological assets fair value determination and describe requirements for reporting and disclosure of biological assets according to International Accounting Standard IAS 41 - Agriculture. Feasibility study on biological assets classification will be conducted in Žichlická zemědělská a.s. The measurement applicability as defined in Internationl Accounting Standard 41 based on fair value less costs to sell will be in the real environment verified on biological assets (wheat and live cattle)in Žichlická zemědělská a.s.

The purpose of this research report is to determine whether the use of a Downside risk variable – the D-Beta – is more appropriate in the emerging market of South Africa than the regular Beta used in the CAPM model. The prior research upon which this report expands, performed by Estrada (1999; 2002; 2005), focuses on using Downside risk models mainly at an overall country (market) level. This report focuses exclusively on South Africa, but could be applicable to various other emerging markets. The reason for researching this topic is simple: Investors – not just in South Africa, but all across the world – think of risk differently to the way that it is defined in terms of modern portfolio theory. Beta measures risk by giving equal weight to both Upside and Downside volatility, while in reality, investors are a lot more sensitive to Downside fluctuations. The Downside Beta takes into account only returns which are below a certain benchmark, thereby allowing investors to determine a share’s Downside volatility. When the Downside Beta is included as the primary measure of systematic risk in an asset pricing model (such as the D-CAPM), the result is a model which can be used to determine cost of equity, and make forecasts about share returns. The results of this research indicate that using the D-CAPM to forecast returns results in improved accuracy when compared to using the CAPM. However, when comparing goodness of fit, the CAPM and the D-CAPM are not significantly different. Even with this conflicting result, this research shows that there is indeed value in using the D-Beta in South Africa, especially during times of economic downturn.

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), as introduced by Markowitz (1952), Sharpe (1964), Lintner (1965), Black (1972) and Mossin (1966), offers powerful and intuitively pleasing predictions about the risk and return relationship that is expected when investing in equities. Studies on the empirical strength of the CAPM such as Fama and French (1992), however, indicate that the model does not reflect the share return actually obtained on the equity market. Attempting to improve the model, Fama and French (1993) enhanced the original CAPM by incorporating other factors which may be relevant in predicting the return on share investments, specifically, the book – to – market ratio and the market capitalisation of the entity. Carhart (1997) further attempted to improve the CAPM by incorporating momentum analysis together with the 3 factors identified by Fama and French (1993). This research report empirically evaluates the accuracy of the above three models in calculating the cost of equity on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 2002 to 2012. Portfolios of shares were constructed based on the three models for the purposes of this evaluation. The results indicate that the book-to-market ratio and market capitalisation are able to add some robustness to the CAPM, but that the results of formulating book – to – market and market capitalization portfolios is highly volatile and therefore may lead to inconsistent results going forward. By incorporating the short run momentum effect, the robustness of the CAPM is improved substantially, as the Carhart model comes closest to reflecting what, for the purposes of this study, represents the ideal performance of an effective asset pricing model. The Fama and French (1993) and Carhart (1997) models therefore present a step forward in formulating an asset pricing model that will hold up under empirical evaluation, where the expected cost of equity is representative of the total return that can be expected from investing in a portfolio of shares. It is however established that the additional factors indicated above are volatile, and this volatility may influence the results of a longer term study.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-05-27T20:33:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 fatores_explicativos.pdf: 1077501 bytes, checksum: e633110f5c7b548e00a08d4f421dae36 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-27T20:33:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 fatores_explicativos.pdf: 1077501 bytes, checksum: e633110f5c7b548e00a08d4f421dae36 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-27 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O estudo trata dos fatores explicativos do reconhecimento de ativos de natureza fiscal. Seu objetivo é identificar esses fatores em empresas pertencentes ao ramo de agronegócios. Estudos anteriores, alguns com enfoque nos ativos fiscais diferidos, identificaram, entre os fatores explicativos, a alavancagem, rentabilidade, lucratividade, endividamento, liquidez e tamanho das empresas. A partir da definição dos ativos em geral, o estudo propõe a classificação dos ativos fiscais em recuperáveis, diferidos e litigiosos. A pesquisa é aplicada, documental, explicativa e descritiva e com abordagem predominantemente quantitativa, com a utilização de técnicas estatísticas e econométricas. Foram analisadas as demonstrações contábeis, incluídas as notas explicativas, de empresas de capital aberto, listadas na BMF&BOVESPA, do ramo de agronegócio, no período de 2001 a 2010. Justifica-se o estudo nesse setor por ser destaque na balança comercial brasileira. Além disso, apresenta uma cadeia produtiva bem delineada, o que torna perceptível a sistemática não-cumulativa de tributos, com o consequente reconhecimento sucessivo de ativos fiscais recuperáveis (apropriação de créditos fiscais). Os resultados indicaram a interdependência entre o reconhecimento de ativos fiscais (o nível de reconhecimento de um ativo fiscal explica o nível do outro), além de evidenciarem que tais ativos podem ser explicados pelas variáveis Alavancagem, Liquidez Corrente, Ativo Imobilizado (Intensidade de Capital), Ativo Intangível, pelas Exportações, pelo Tamanho (com base na Receita Líquida) e pelo Estado de localização da sede da empresa. A variável Estados e as espécies desses ativos foram significantes nos modelos, o que confirmou o viés de omissão de variáveis em pesquisas anteriores, além de justificar a divergência de sinais de algumas variáveis. Comparando com os resultados de pesquisas anteriores, não foram determinantes do reconhecimento a rentabilidade, lucratividade e endividamento (ressalvado o caso especifico do ICMS). O trabalho contribuiu para evidenciar uma nova perspectiva de reconhecimento de ativos de natureza fiscal. / The study examines the factors of tax assets recognition. The objective is to identify these factors in agribusiness companies. Previous studies, some focusing on deferred tax assets, identified as a factor: leverage, profitability, indebtedness, marketability and firm size. From the definition of assets, the study proposes the classification of the asset tax in add-value, deferred and litigation. The research is applied, documentary, descriptive and explanatory, with quantitative approach through using statistical and econometric techniques. The financial statements were analyzed, including notes, of agribusiness companies listed on BMF&BOVESPA, in the period 2001 to 2010. This sector of Brazilian economy contributes to improve the trade balance. Moreover, it presents a specific supply chain with successive recognition of tax assets add-value (appropriation of tax credits). The results showed the interdependence between the recognition of tax assets (the level of recognition of a tax asset explains the level of another), and also show that this assets can be explained by the variables Leverage, Marketability, Fixed Assets (Capital Intensity), Intangible Assets, Exports, Firm Size and the States. The factor State and the species of these assets were significant in the models. This confirmed the omitted variable in previous research and justifies the difference of signs of some variables. However, were not determinants of tax assets recognition: profitability and indebtedness (except for the specific case of ICMS). The results show a new approach to recognition of tax assets.

A central topic in empirical asset pricing is how to explain anomalies in various trading horizons. This dissertation contains two essays that study several anomalies in medium-term/long-term investment in the equity market and in high-frequency trading in the foreign exchange market. In the first essay, I propose an investor underreaction model with heterogeneous truncations across time and stocks. In this setting, investors are more attracted to dramatic changes in stock prices than to gradual changes. Continuous information causes signals to be truncated which delays their incorporation into stock prices thus generating momentum. Under the assumption that investors are more attracted to winner stocks and ignore more information in loser stocks, I show that a loser portfolio exhibits stronger momentum and higher profitability than a winner portfolio with the same discreteness level. A trading strategy based on this model yields high alphas and Sharpe ratios. Evidence from social media trends aligns well with this model. In the second essay, I develop multivariate logistic models to explain the short-term offer price movement of the currency pair EUR/USD from the EBS limit order book. Using logistic regression based methods, I study the impact of various market microstructure factors on offer price changes in the next second. The empirical results show explanatory power for the testing sample up to 45% and a true positive rate of the prediction up to 87%. The model reveals interesting mechanisms for the underlying driving forces of the tick-by-tick currency price movement.

A Internacionalização das empresas se impõe como um imperativo em tempos de globalização. O forte processo de concorrência nos mercados domésticos faz com que as empresas busquem novos mercados para competir, motivando a Internacionalização de suas operações. As empresas buscam o processo de Internacionalização visando manter e expandir suas trajetórias de crescimento, e logicamente, visando também melhorar sua performance empresarial. Este estudo analisou a relação entre o Grau de Internacionalização e a Performance de empresas brasileiras. O Grau de Internacionalização foi medido pela variável FSTS (Foreign Sales over Total Sales ou Vendas no Exterior sobre Vendas Totais). A performance foi avaliada sob duas dimensões: Performance Contábil (Retorno sobre o Ativo; Retorno sobre Vendas) e Performance de Mercado (Retorno das ações; Valor de Mercado). A relação entre Grau de Internacionalização e Performance foi avaliada sob diversas formas, a partir de regressões simples, multivariadas e polinomiais (usando modelos de Dados em Painel e Heteroscedasticidade-Corrigida). Adicionalmente, foi investigada a relação entre o valor (força) da Base de Ativos Intangíveis (medida pelo indicador Tobin’s Q) e o Grau de Internacionalização das companhias. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem associação positiva entre Grau de Internacionalização e Performance para a amostra analisada. Foram explorados modelos lineares e polinomiais. Tanto os modelos lineares quanto polinomiais demonstraram relação positiva entre as variáveis. Os modelos polinomiais Quadráticos apresentaram os melhores ajustes, indicando que a relação entre Grau de Internacionalização e Performance (Contábil, medida pelo ROA; de Mercado, medida pelo Valor de Mercado) apresenta o formato de uma curva em “U”, com retornos negativos no início do processo de Internacionalização, até um ponto de inflexão, a partir do qual a relação entre Grau de Internacionalização e Performance passa a ser positiva. Os resultados também sugerem relação positiva entre o valor (força) da Base de Ativos Intangíveis e o Grau de Internacionalização das firmas. / The Internationalization of firms is mandatory in an environment marked by globalization. The fierce competition in domestic markets pressures firms to find new markets to compete, motivating the Internationalization process of these firms. Firms seek Internationalization to maintain and to expand their growth trajectories, and, logically, to enhance their Business Performance. This study analyzed the relationship between Degree of Internationalization and Performance of Brazilian Firms. The Degree of Internationalization was measured by the variable FSTS (Foreign Sales over Total Sales). Performance was evaluated using two dimensions: Accounting measures (Return on Assets; Return on Sales) and Market measures (Return on Stocks; Market Value of Equity). Simple, Multivariate and Polynomial Regressions (using Panel Data and Heteroscedasticity-Corrected models) were used to analyze the relationship between variables. Additionally, it was analyzed the relationship between the value (strenght) of the Intangible Assets Base (measured by Tobin’s Q) and the Degree of Internationalization. The results suggest positive association between Degree of Internationalization and Performance for the sample studied. Both linear and polynomial models showed positive relationship between the two variables. The quadratic (second-order) polynomial models were found better adjusted than linear models, indicating that the relationship between Degree of Internationalization and Performance (measured by ROA and Market Value of Equity) is better explained by an “U-shaped” curve: at early stages of Internationalization the returns are negative. Later, at the second stage of the Internationalization process, there is an inflection point, when returns become positive. Results also suggest that there is a positive relationship between the value (strenght) of the Base of Intangible Assets and the Degree of Internationalization of firms.

L’objet de cette recherche est d’étudier les moyens utilisés par les entreprises de l’Union Economique Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) pour développer leur capital immatériel. Deux questions principales sont évoquées : (i) pourquoi certaines entreprises privilégient-elles certains modes de gestion du capital immatériel plus que d’autres ? (ii) Ces modes de gestion de l’immatériel influencent-ils différemment la performance des entreprises de l’UEMOA ? Une étude empirique de 381 entreprises réparties dans huit (8) pays montre que les pratiques de gestion du capital immatériel diffèrent entre les pays et peuvent s’expliquer par des différences au niveau du climat des affaires et de la corruption dans le pays, des différences sectorielles et des variables spécifiques à chaque entreprise. Plus précisément, nous relevons le rôle complexe de la variable « corruption » qui incite à la fois à certaines actions favorables au capital immatériel et à une réticence des entreprises à lancer des innovations. Nous observons que l’orientation clients constitue une variable clé dans la gestion du capital immatériel. Les entreprises orientées vers leurs clients sont celles qui innovent le plus, adoptent les « bonnes pratiques » de gestion des ressources humaines et qui utilisent le plus la communication publicitaire pour développer leur notoriété. Les activités de gestion de l’immatériel, en retour, influencent indirectement la performance de l’entreprise car elles améliorent la notoriété, l’implication / The purpose of this research is to study how companies operating in the Wertern African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) area proceed to develop their intangible assets. Two main questions were addressed: (i) why do some companies prefer some particular means for developing intangle assets more than others? And (ii) do the means used by companies to develop intangible assets lead to better performance? A cross-country investigation of 381 companies in eight (8) countries shows that cross-country differences in the management of intangible assets can be explained by the business climate and corruption, industry differences, and firm-specific factors. Regarding cross-country differences, we find that corruption plays a complex role in the sense that it both leads to more and less effort towards developing intangible assets. We also find that customer focus is a key variable in the management of intangible assets. Customer-focused companies innovate more, invest more in human resources, and are more enclined towards developing their brand equity through advertising. The actitivities designed to develop intangible assets, in return, indirectly lead to better firm performance as they increase company awareness levels, employee involvement, and the success of innovative activities.