The dividend policy and the distribution of cash dividend can be of interest to the investors from many angles. Consequently, many theories have been built on the relevance of dividend policy and there are several theories proposing that dividends increase shareholder value. However, the most famous theory on dividend policy might be Miller and Modigliani's dividend irrelevance theory which implies that the dividend policy does not affect shareholder value. Although investors are concerned with shareholder value they are also concerned with achieving the highest possible return with the lowest volatility (risk). As many studies have focused on the dividend policy, especially dividend yield or the dividend payout ratio, and its relation with stock price movement we felt that there was a lack of information regarding the relation between return volatility and cash dividends. This resulted in the following research question: Does a change in cash dividend affect stock return volatility on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm? Answering this research question is the main purpose of the research. Additionally, the relationship between changes in cash dividend and return volatility will be compared in the different size segments that are to be found on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. The study is quantitative with a deductive approach where historical data ranging from 2006-2012 has been gathered. Two measures of return volatility has been used, beta and standard deviation of return. Statistical tests have been conducted in an approach to answer the research question, mainly correlation tests and logistic regression analysis. No correlation between changes in cash dividend and changes in beta, nor changes in standard deviation were found. The same results were found when examining small, mid and large cap individually. In the logistic regression analysis no evidence was found that changes in dividend could explain changes in return volatility. Contrary to changes in dividend, the results indicate that the size of the company can explain changes in return volatility. Specifically, large cap companies explain increases in return volatility better than companies in the small cap segment. Therefore, the research question is concluded with no, a change in cash dividend does not affect stock return volatility. The findings could also be argued to be in support of the dividend irrelevance theory. Furthermore, the conclusion implies that investors need not regard the dividend policy when diversifying their portfolios. Additionally, managers need not be worried that a change in dividend policy should affect return volatility.

Submitted by Noeme Timbo (noeme.timbo@metodista.br) on 2018-02-23T19:50:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Giovana Garcia Firmino.pdf: 1487977 bytes, checksum: 1b975dfb33dc625a7208e9514026843c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-23T19:50:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Giovana Garcia Firmino.pdf: 1487977 bytes, checksum: 1b975dfb33dc625a7208e9514026843c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-23 / This study investigates the relationship between cost of capital and results management, a measure related to earnings quality in Brazilian publicly traded companies listed in B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcão in the period from 2009 to 2016. The general objective of the present study is to analyze if there is a negative association between the management of results and the cost of capital and third parties. To measure the cost of equity, beta-β is used as a measure of the systematic risk, and as a measure of the cost of third-party capital, the variable Ki obtained from the ratio between financial expenses and the average of the onerous liabilities. As a proxy for results management, we use the Earning Quality variable derived from the measurement of results management by discretionary accruals obtained from three models for greater robustness of results: the Modified Jones model (1995), the model Kang and Sivaramakrishnan (1995) ) and the model McNilchols (2002). By means of a fixed effects panel and application of MQO models treated by means of robust standard errors in order to eliminate possible biases of heteroscedasticity and multicollinearity, EQ measurements were obtained for each of the proposed models and then they were tested in relation with the cost of capital and third parties by means of econometric models composed of control variables for the year 2016. The obtained results do not confirm the hypotheses proposed that there is a negative relation between EQ and cost of capital, contrary to previous works as that of Persakis and Iatridis (2015), opening the way for future research on the influences of the economic context on this relation. / Este estudo investiga a relação entre o custo de capital e o gerenciamento de resultados, medida relacionada com a qualidade do resultado (earnings quality) nas empresas brasileiras de capital aberto listadas na B3 – Brasil Bolsa Balcão no período de 2009 à 2016. O objetivo geral do presente trabalho é analisar se existe uma associação negativa entre o gerenciamento de resultados e o custo de capital próprio e de terceiros. Para mensuração do custo de capital próprio utiliza-se o beta – β, medida do risco sistemático, e como medida do custo de capital de terceiros a variável Ki obtida da razão entre as despesas financeiras e a média do passivo oneroso. Como proxy de gerenciamento de resultados utiliza-se a variável Earning Quality derivada da mensuração do gerenciamento de resultados pelos accruals discricionários obtidos a partir de três modelos para maior robustez dos resultados: o modelo Jones Modificado (1995), o modelo Kang e Sivaramakrishnan (1995) e o modelo McNilchols (2002). Por meio de painel de efeitos fixo e aplicação de modelos MQO, tratados por meio de erros padrão robustos a fim de eliminar possíveis vieses de heterocedasticidade e multicolinearidade, foram obtidas as medidas EQ para cada um dos modelos propostos e em seguida as mesmas foram testadas na relação com o custo de capital próprio e de terceiros por meio de modelos econométricos compostos por variáveis de controle para o ano de 2016. Os resultados obtidos não confirmam as hipóteses propostas de que existe uma relação negativa entre EQ e custo de capital, contrariando trabalhos anteriores como o de Persakis e Iatridis (2015) abrindo campo para futuras pesquisas sobre as influências do contexto econômico sobre esta relação.

Although several studies have investigated on commercial farmers’ risk preferences, there is still lack of information on the risk attitudes and risk preferences of smallholder farmers in South Africa. Risks associated with the adoption of new agricultural technology need to be explored in order to address the transition from homestead food gardening to smallholder irrigated farming. This study seeks to understand risk perception of smallholder irrigation farmers by linking constraints to commercialisation, adoption of new agricultural technologies and risk preferences of smallholder farmers in the former Ciskei Homelands of the Eastern Cape. A total of 101 respondents were surveyed, consisting of 38 smallholder farmers and 63 homestead food gardeners in the Eastern Cape. Questionnaires were used to record household activities, socio-economic and institutional data as well as household demographics through personal interviews. The probit results indicated that older farmers are less risk averse thus more willing to take risk. The risk analysis indicates that farmers who are employed elsewhere are more willing to take risk as income is playing a major role in risk preferences. The results also prove that factors such as tenure system and years in farming have a major influence on farmers’ decision to take risk and adopt new agricultural technology. According to the multi-logit model the major factors influencing technology adoption and risk taking are household size, water rate and type of irrigation system used by the farmers. This study provides useful practical insights for policy makers, farm advisers and researchers in the design of effective and efficient policies, programmes and projects which can affect the adoption of technology, increase smallholder farmers capacity to manage risk and drive growth in the food market.

Le coût du capital est la pierre angulaire de la théorie financière. Pourtant,pour la forme d’organisation la plus ancienne et la plus répandue dans le monde qu’est l’entreprise familiale non cotée (EFNC), les modèles traditionnels d’estimation du coût du capital sont d’une très faible utilité. Ces modèles s’inscrivent, pour la plupart, dans le cadre de la théorie de l’utilité espérée. Ils ne considèrent que le risque de l’investissement et son lien avec la rentabilité espérée. La présente étude, contrairement à l’approche traditionnelle fondée sur la maximisation de la valeur de marché, adopte une approche comportementale fondée sur l’utilité, afin de pouvoir prendre en compte les spécificités qui caractérisent l’EFNC. Des modèles spécifiques de détermination du coût du capital sont développés puis testés sur 12043EFNC françaises. L’étude met particulièrement en évidence l’importance des motivations non financières, notamment celle de la pérennité, de l’indépendance financière et du métier de l’entreprise, dans la formation du coût du capital, et leurs impacts sur le comportement financier de l’EFNC. / The Unlisted Family Business (UFB) is the oldest and most widespread organizational form in the world. However, traditional models for estimating the cost of capital are interested only in large listed companies and do not not take into account the specificities of the UFB. Most of those models are constructed within the expected utility framework. They consider only the investment risk and its association with the expected return. This study, in contrast to the traditional approach based on market value maximization, adopts a behavioral approach based on utility, in order to take into account the specificities that characterize UFBs. Specific models for estimating the cost of capital are developed and tested. The study is based on a sample made up of 12,043 French UFBs from the Diane database covering a period of 8 years (2004-2011). It particularly highlights the importance of non-financial incentives, including that of long term survival, financial independence and the company's industry, in the formation of the cost of capital, and their impacts on the financial behavior of the UFB.

Risk and return management is one of the core competencies of venture capital companies (VCCs) as they invest in young, innovative firms with a high return potential, but also high risk potential. Due to the liability of smallness, newness and financial constraints young, innovative firms are constantly under the threat of failure. In the scope of this dissertation are four related studies – three empirical studies and one literature review – analyzing the risk and return management of VCCs. In particular, risk assessment and risk management and value adding activities in the post investment phase were examined. In the first article, authors analyze which risks are relevant over the whole venture capital (VC) investment process and show how VCCs assess and documents risks in their deal documents. The second article studies risk management practices of VCCs. We show that the experience and the skills of the corresponding investment manager have a significantly negative impact on the failure risk of a venture. Article three analyzes value creation measures applied by VCCs. The results suggest that VCCs are highly engaged in supporting ventures in financial and human capital issues as well as in establishing strong governance mechanisms. The fourth article also deals with the foregone topic. This paper provides a literature analysis on value adding activity measures in VC investments, synthesizes the variables measuring the main levers of value adding and identifies directions for improvement in terms of data, variables and methods.:1. Introduction 2. The entire research project 3. Risk and return management of venture capital companies in the post-investment phase 3.1 Risk types and risk assessment in venture capital investments: A content analysis of investors´ original documents 3.2 Risk management in the venture capital industry: Managing risk in portfolio companies 3.3. Value adding activities of venture capital companies: A content analysis of investor´s original documents in Germany 3.4 Value adding activities in venture capital literature: A review on data, variables and methods 4. Further research in the venture capital field

Yes / This paper examines the role of institutional investor sentiment in determination of the beta-return relation. Empirical evidence documents a positive (negative) beta-return relation over bearish (bullish) periods, implying that institutional investors can also be sentiment traders.

Svensk bostadsmarknad har länge präglats av en snedvriden konkurrens med en markant fördel till Sveriges kommunala allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag jämte de privata bostadsaktiebolagen. I syfte att utjämna existerande sektoriella diskrepanser och skapa en konkurrensneutral marknad med jämlika villkor för privata respektive kommunala bostadsaktiebolag, infördes per den 1:a januari år 2011, Lag (2010:879) om allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag. Lagen innebär för de kommunala bostadsaktiebolagen ett avsteg från den tidigare självkostnadsprincipen mot ett i högre grad affärsmässig agerande enligt vinstdrivande syfte. Denna studie avser utifrån sambandet mellan risk och avkastning inom svenska bostadsaktiebolag, undersöka huruvida svenska kommunala allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag efter införandet av lagen uppvisar ett mer affärsmässigt agerande i termer om risk och avkastning på totalt kapital. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkter tar huvudsakligen ansats i prospektteorin samt den förväntade nyttoteorin, vilka utgör två välrenommerade modeller i syfte att förklara beslutstagande under risk. Den förväntade nyttoteorin antar att individer är rationella nyttomaximerare och därefter agerar antingen riskaversivt, risksökande eller riskneutralt. Prospektteorin hävdar i motsats till den förväntade nyttoteorin att individen kan vara en kombination av riskaversiv, risksökande och riskneutral. Varav individen således inte alltid antas agera rationellt. Författarna har funnit flertalet tidigare forskare vilka genom perspektivet av den strategiska företagsledningen, bevisat stöd för prospektteorin som förklarande modell av beslutstagande under risk på företagsnivå, inom och mellan olika branscher. Därmed ställer författarna följande frågeställning: Uppvisar Sveriges kommunala allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag ett i högre grad affärsmässigt riskbeteende efter införandet av Lag (2010:879) om allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag? Utifrån sekundärdata insamlad via databasen Retriever Business har ett kvantitativt metodangrepp tillämpats i syfte att besvara studiens framställda hypoteser. Insamlad data består av de svenska bostadsaktiebolagens årliga avkastning på totalt kapital för tidsperioden 2006-2010 samt 2011-2014. Det empiriska materialet har vidare analyserats genom korstabeller, rangkorrelationer samt deskriptiv statistik. Resultatet visade att prospektteorin utgör ett bra alternativ som deskriptiv modell av beslutstagande under risk inom svenska bostadsaktiebolag. Enligt prospektteorin påvisades att svenska bostadsaktiebolags riskbeteende varierar beroende på bolagets branschallokering i förhållande till branschens genomsnittliga prestation, varav den strategiska företagsledningen inom svenska bostadsaktiebolag kan antas vara en sammanslagning av både risksökande och riskaversiva. Därmed motsäger resultatet den förväntade nyttoteorins antaganden om att individen alltid agerar rationellt. Vidare påvisade jämförelse av de kommunala bostadsaktiebolagens riskbeteende före och efter reformen att de kommunala bostadsaktiebolagens riskbeteende inte påverkats i större utsträckning, varför indikationer ges att allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag inte agerar i högre grad affärsmässigt efter Lag (2010:879) om allmännyttiga bostadsaktiebolag.

Submitted by Joshua spierts (spierts_joshua@msn.com) on 2018-02-05T13:06:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThesisFinalDraftFGV.pdf: 377288 bytes, checksum: 63f6a61517939667b90055195c227c37 (MD5) / Rejected by Josineide da Silva Santos Locatelli (josineide.locatelli@fgv.br), reason: Dear Hubertus, Please, correct just 2 things in your thesis: Page 2: Please, put the full name of your adviser; Page 5: The text of resumo needs to be justify, it is untidy on 2018-02-05T18:56:26Z (GMT) / Submitted by Joshua spierts (spierts_joshua@msn.com) on 2018-02-06T12:09:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThesisFinalDraftFGV.pdf: 377628 bytes, checksum: e0b66926412c6787392f57e3b5d60e44 (MD5) / Rejected by Josineide da Silva Santos Locatelli (josineide.locatelli@fgv.br), reason: Joshua, I will send an email. on 2018-02-06T12:23:03Z (GMT) / Submitted by Joshua spierts (spierts_joshua@msn.com) on 2018-02-06T12:27:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThesisFinalDraftFGV.pdf: 378305 bytes, checksum: c0cad61d2c11c1f94697ddaf8dd37791 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Josineide da Silva Santos Locatelli (josineide.locatelli@fgv.br) on 2018-02-06T12:29:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ThesisFinalDraftFGV.pdf: 378305 bytes, checksum: c0cad61d2c11c1f94697ddaf8dd37791 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-06T12:33:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThesisFinalDraftFGV.pdf: 378305 bytes, checksum: c0cad61d2c11c1f94697ddaf8dd37791 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01-16 / This paper will follow Pettengill et al.’s (1995) approach to examine the unconditional and conditional relationship between beta and returns from January 1995 to May 2017 in a well globally diversified sample of 22 emerging markets and 23 developed markets. Additionally, Pettengill et al.’s (1995) methodology is adjusted to take into account 1-year time-varying beta values to supplement and check the robustness of the initial results. The empirical results for the full sample as well as both sub-samples indicate that there is no significant unconditional relationship between beta and returns, however, when differentiating between up- and down-markets a significant conditional relationship is found. This paper adds to the existing literature by examining and comparing a large sample of both developed and emerging markets, as well as, confirming the results according to Pettengill et al.’s methodology with timevarying betas. / Este artigo seguirá a abordagem de Pettengill et al. (1995) para examinar a relação incondicional e condicional entre beta e retornos de janeiro de 1995 a maio de 2017 em uma amostra globalmente diversificada de 22 mercados emergentes e 23 mercados desenvolvidos. Além disso, a metodologia de Pettengill et al. (1995) é ajustada para levar em conta valores beta de variação do tempo de 1 ano para complementar e verificar a robustez dos resultados iniciais. Os resultados empíricos para a amostra completa, bem como as duas sub-amostras, indicam que não existe uma relação incondicional significativa entre beta e retorno, no entanto, quando se diferencia entre os mercados ascendentes e descendentes, é encontrada uma relação condicional significativa. Este artigo acrescenta-se à literatura existente, examinando e comparando uma grande amostra de mercados desenvolvidos e emergentes, bem como, confirmando os resultados de acordo com a metodologia de Pettengill et al., Com betas variáveis no tempo.

La loi monétaire de septembre 1939 interdit la détention, le commerce, l’importation et l’exportation de l’or enFrance. Un marché clandestin s’est alors créé en 1941 et fonctionne jusqu’en janvier 1948. La loi du 2 février1948 a rendu la liberté au commerce de l’or en France. Ainsi, un marché officiel de ce métal précieux est-ilouvert à la Bourse de Paris. Après 56 ans d’existence, il est fermé en juillet 2004. Depuis cette date, le marché del’or en France est un marché de gré à gré où le prix d’équilibre est déterminé par la Compagnie Parisienne deRéescompte. Malgré cette riche histoire, le marché de l’or à Paris depuis 1941 n’a jamais été étudiéscientifiquement jusqu’à maintenant. Afin de l’explorer, cette thèse est divisée en deux parties distinctes. Lapremière l’étudie sous l’angle historique. Nous analysons son évolution en le rattachant aux événements del’histoire le qualifiant de plusieurs statuts différents : un marché clandestin de 1941 à 1948 (chapitre 1), unmarché réglementé de 1948 à 2004 (chapitres 2 et 3) et un marché de gré à gré de 2004 à 2009 (chapitre 4). Ladeuxième partie de la thèse étudie le marché de l’or à Paris sous l’angle financier. Les résultats du chapitre 5montrent que l’hypothèse de l’efficience informationnelle du marché parisien de l’or ne semble pas être validée.Dans le chapitre 6, nous trouvons que l’or coté à Paris (le lingot et la pièce napoléon) est moins rentable à longtermeque les actions. Cependant, il est aussi risqué que ces dernières et quatre fois plus risqué que lesobligations. Contrairement à la littérature anglo-saxonne, nous trouvons, dans le chapitre 7, que l’or n’est pas unbon moyen de protection contre l’inflation en France. De même, l’or coté à Paris n’est favorable dans ladiversification des portefeuilles français que durant les périodes où son prix a une tendance haussière. / The monetary law of September 1939 forbids possession, trade, import and export of gold in France. Aclandestine market was then created in 1941 and operates until January 1948. The law of February 2nd, 1948turned back the liberty to the gold trade in France. Thus, an official market was opened at the Paris StockExchange. After 56 years of existence, it was closed in July 2004. Since then, the gold market in France is anover the counter market where price is fixed by the Compagnie Parisienne de Réescompte. In spite of this veryrich history, the Paris Gold Market from 1941 has never been studied scientifically before. In order to explorethis market, our thesis is divided in two distinct parts. The first one concerns the historical analysis. We presentthe evolution of the market in parallel with the historical events which describe it by different natures: aclandestine market from 1941 to 1948 (chapter 1), an official market from 1948 to 2004 (chapters 2 and 3) andan over the counter market from 2004 until now (chapter 4). The second part of the thesis analyzes the financialaspects of the Paris gold market. The results of the chapter 5 show that the efficient market hypothesis seems notto be validated. In the chapter 6, we find that gold quoted at Paris (ingot and napoleon coin) are less profitablethan stocks in the long-term. Nevertheless, they have the same level of risk than these latters and are four timesmore risky than bonds. Contrarily to the Anglo-Saxon literature, we find, in the chapter 7, that gold is not a goodhedge against inflation in France. At the same time, gold quoted at Paris is favorable in the diversification ofFrench portfolios only in the periods when its price has an upward trend.

In post-financial crisis times, new legislation in combination with banks’ changed risk aversion has to a great extent changed the proprietary trading to client driven trading, i.e. market making or client facilitation. This type of trading complicates the risk-return dynamics, as the goal is often to minimize risk and achieve profitable commission revenues. This thesis aims to disclose the risk-return tradeoff in a client driven trading environment. This is done by investigating the conditional relation between risk and realized return. As opposed from many studies which proxy the risk with beta or variance, I use a delta-gamma Value at Risk model as the risk proxy, which I also backtest. For the return proxy, I use three different measures; P&L, commission revenues and the sum of these two. A positive tradeoff exists if (i) the return is equally negatively dependent on the risk if the ex post return is negative, as it is positively dependent on the risk if the ex post return is positive and (ii) the average return is significantly positive. For three different client driven trading portfolios tested, I found a positive risk-return tradeoff in one portfolio, between the P&L plus commission revenues and the Value at Risk. However, since a symmetrical conditional relationship between risk and P&L plus commission revenues was found in all portfolios, and the average return was positive, the positive tradeoff would have existed if the average return would have been significantly positive. On the other hand, one could argue that the tradeoff exists, but is not significant. No relation between risk and commission revenues was found. A probable cause to this is the hedging strategies, which would be an interesting topic for further research. / I tiden efter finanskrisen har nya regelverk i kombination med bankers förändrade riskaptit till stor del förändrat den proprietära handeln till klientdriven handel, i.e. ”market making” eller förenklad handel för kund. Denna typ av handel komplicerar dynamiken mellan risk och avkastning, då målet ofta är att minimera risk och nå lönsamma kommissionsintäkter. Denna uppsats ämnar påvisa förhållandet mellan risk och avkastning i en klientdriven handelsmiljö. Detta görs genom att undersöka den betingade relationen mellan risk och realiserad avkastning. Till skillnad från andra studier som använder beta eller varians som riskmått, använder jag en delta-gamma Value at Risk-modell som jag också backtestar. Som avkastningsmått, använder jag tre olika mått; P&L, kommissionsintäkter samt summan av dessa två. En positiv belöning för att bära risk existerar om (i) avkastningen är lika negativt beroende av risken om den realiserade avkastningen är negativ, som den är positivt beroende av risken om den realiserade avkastningen är positiv och (ii) medelvärdet på avkastningen är signifikant positiv. För tre olika klientdrivna portföljer som testats, hittades en positiv belöning för att bära risk endast i en portfölj, mellan P&L plus kommissionsintäkter och Value at Risk. Emellertid, eftersom en symmetrisk systematisk betingad relation mellan risk och P&L plus kommissionsintäkter hittades i alla portföljer, och medelavkastningen var positiv, skulle den positiva belöningen ha funnits om medelavkastningen varit signifikant positiv. Å andra sidan skulle jag kunna hävda att den positiva belöningen finns, men inte är signifikant. Ingen relation mellan risk och kommissionsintäkter hittades. En trolig orsak till detta är hedgnings-strategierna, vilket vore ett intressant ämne för fortsatt forskning.