According to the existing literatures, there are few directly discussions about the relations of cash flow volatility on firm value and the issues of cash flow volatility are relatively disadvantage to those of earning volatility, arousing the interest of this study.Therefore, this study verifies the effect of cash flow volatility on firm value by using data of listed companies in Taiwan and the method of Pooled Regression. Also, the number of companies are divided up based on the median of cash flow¡Bdebt ratio and total asset, and examine which circumstances are more significant statistically. Finally, this study verifies the effect of earning volatility and earning management on firm value to explain that cash flow volatility is more effective on firm value. The empirical results show that cash flow volatility is negatively on firm value, and the effects are more significant statistically in small asset firms¡Blow debt ratio firms and high cash flow firms. But earning volatility is not significant statistically on firm value, and earning management is ineffective on firm value. The results indirectly explain that cash flow volatility is a more effective indicator on firm value and explain that managers managing earning to increase firm value are useless. According to the empirical results, there is no benefit when managers continue stabilizing earnings based on earning management. If investors continue selecting companies to invest based on earning volatility, the effects could be less than the ones of cash flow volatility. Therefore, the empirical results provide one indicator of the evaluations of firm value with managers and investors.

This study examines the divide between finance theory and practice by analysing the significance of the determinants of capital structure choice among 123 listed firms on the JSE, to determine whether these firms follow the trade-off theory or the pecking-order theory. Data obtained from McGregor’s Bureau of Financial Analysis database was analysed using standard multiple regressions, stepwise regressions and ANOVA techniques to test for financing behaviour. The results indicated that the trade-off model has both cross-sectional and time-series explanatory power for explaining the financing behaviour, while tests on the pecking-order model were weak. The results further revealed a significant positive correlation between debt financing and financial distress, and a significant negative correlation between debt financing and the collateral value of assets during the period under study (1995-2005). These findings suggest a divergence between finance theory and practice for JSE listed firms and manifest conflicting ideologies between finance practices of developed and developing economies. / Business management / M. Com. (Business Management )

This study examines the divide between finance theory and practice by analysing the significance of the determinants of capital structure choice among 123 listed firms on the JSE, to determine whether these firms follow the trade-off theory or the pecking-order theory. Data obtained from McGregor’s Bureau of Financial Analysis database was analysed using standard multiple regressions, stepwise regressions and ANOVA techniques to test for financing behaviour. The results indicated that the trade-off model has both cross-sectional and time-series explanatory power for explaining the financing behaviour, while tests on the pecking-order model were weak. The results further revealed a significant positive correlation between debt financing and financial distress, and a significant negative correlation between debt financing and the collateral value of assets during the period under study (1995-2005). These findings suggest a divergence between finance theory and practice for JSE listed firms and manifest conflicting ideologies between finance practices of developed and developing economies. / Business management / M. Com. (Business Management )

歐盟保險業者於2005年開始，將強制採用IFRS之相關規定。而過去IFRS對於保險業之影響主要以理論探討為主，因此本研究以歐盟壽險業為主要研究對象，探討IFRS適用對壽險業之影響。研究結果發現歐洲壽險業者於適用IFRS後，整體而言的確對於其盈餘波動程度產生正向影響；在資金成本方面則為負向之影響。有關投資配置之影響部分，IFRS之實施對於壽險業者之投資決策並未產生顯著之影響。另一方面，壽險業者之審計公費有降低之趨勢，但其資訊揭露成本有顯著增加之趨勢存在。 / Beginning in 2005, compliance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) has been required in the European Union insurance industry. In the past, the influences of IFRS on the insurance business primarily take the theory discussion. The study takes the European Union life insurance industry as the main objects of study, trying to discuss what the influences of life insurance industry to adopt IFRSs. The study finds that after European Union life insurance industry adopting IFRS, the earning volatility increase and cost of capital would decrease. But in the investment allocations, the influences of IFRS are not significant. In the other hand, audit cost would decrease and information disclosure cost would increase.