Search

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the financial performance of companies traded in BIST Sustainability index using 7 MCDA applications. Although there have been previous studies on aforementioned index, this study will be the first comparative and most comprehensive study conducted across 7 methods.Methodology: Analyzes were performed using VIKOR, FUCA, MOORA, GRA, COPRAS, SAW and CODAS methods and the CRITIC technique for the financial performance of 34 companies that achieved to remain in the relevant index continuously for 11 periods, within the timeframe spanning from Q1 2019 to Q3 2021.Findings: According to the comparative MCDA analysis, the highest capacity was found in the VIKOR method with 65.8% (p

Deferred taxes emerge from timing differences in recognizing income and expenses between commercial and tax financial statements. However, the capitalization of deferred tax assets remains contentious, with questions raised about their value relevance to investors. This study aims to investigate the informational value and economic significance of deferred tax assets in financial statements prepared in accordance with both German commercial law (HGB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The analysis is based on financial data from 1,066 firm-year observations of HDAX-listed companies from 2000 to 2022. Using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model, the study examines the relationship between deferred tax assets and the market value of equity. Key financial variables, including research and development expenses, deferred tax liabilities, net income, and the market-to-book ratio, are incorporated to provide a comprehensive assessment of deferred tax asset relevance in capital markets. The results demonstrate that deferred tax assets have a negligible impact on the market value of companies, with no statistically significant effect detected. Conversely, research and development costs, as well as net income, exhibit a strong positive influence on firm valuation. These findings suggest that deferred tax assets serve largely as an accounting mechanism, lacking informational value for investors.

Access to capital is critical to business growth and productivity, yet female business owners are less likely to receive formal financing. Using a large-scale field experiment in Ethiopia, we show that gender discrimination by financial providers is unlikely to be a key contributor to this gap, and that there is no meaningful trade-off between gender equity and allocating capital to high-performing businesses. We study whether finan- cial providers discriminated against female owners in a high-stakes capital allocation decision affecting real businesses in a national business plan competition. In a sample of 3,696 evaluations, we find no evidence that randomly assigned business-owner gender affected capital allocation decisions, neither for the competition prizes nor for consid- eration for a loan. Our confidence intervals are tight enough to exclude any meaningful gender discrimination in these decisions. Consistent with the lack of discrimination, an incentivized belief elicitation revealed that randomly assigned business-owner gender did not affect financial providers’ beliefs about future business performance. Using a machine learning algorithm to predict actual business performance 18 months after the competition, we find that considering gender indeed does not improve targeting of capi- tal towards high-performing businesses. The results provide support for the theoretical prediction that discrimination will not persist when it is not profit maximizing.

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the process of implementation of the European Union (EU) acts in the field of capital markets into Ukrainian legislation. The author examines the international legal basis of this process and describes the main stages of Ukraine’s relations with the EU in relation to the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to the EU acquis. The author also examines the key documents that define the relations between Ukraine and the EU in the context of European integration, including the 1994 EU-Ukraine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the 2014 EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The article analyses in detail the reports of the European Commission on Ukraine’s progress in approximating its legislation to the EU acquis in the field of capital markets. The main achievements and areas requiring further improvement are highlighted. In particular, the author examines the issues of capital market supervision, rating of financial instruments, and such mechanisms for raising funds as securitisation and covered bonds. The author examines the internal aspects of bringing Ukrainian legislation in line with EU requirements, including legislative plans and current draft laws. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of recently adopted laws aimed at bringing Ukrainian legislation closer to the EU acquis in the field of capital markets. The article also examines the priority areas for further work on the implementation of EU acts, including improving legislation on combating capital market abuse, creating a mechanism for compensation to investors in securities, strengthening the supervisory powers of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, and introducing certain types of collective investment institutions that operate in the EU but are not currently provided for in Ukrainian legislation, such as European long-term investment funds, venture capital funds, and other types of collective investment institutions. Based on the analysis, the author formulates recommendations for improving the implementation process, including strengthening coordination between various government agencies, attracting international technical assistance and holding broad consultations with market participants [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mid-April 2020, the global financial markets plunged into financial crisis from the unprecedented worldwide lockdowns for an extended period.

This review aims to examine the impact of increasing energy costs on the global economy, social cohesion, economic growth, and capital markets, with a particular focus on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. The methodology involves an extensive review of recent academic literature to cast light on these impacts. The study identifies significant disruptions in supply chains and heightened volatility in international capital markets due to these crises. Furthermore, the findings highlight the resulting challenges for policymakers, academics, market analysts, and professionals in addressing corporate sustainability in an increasingly uncertain environment. This paper underscores the continued relevance of energy issues as a central concern, both independently and in connection with broader economic sectors. Additionally, it discusses the importance of policy measures to enhance energy security and the transition towards sustainable energy solutions to mitigate these challenges and foster economic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic finance (IF) holds significant potential for economic development and the enhancement of financial inclusion in Uzbekistan. Sukuk, as a key Islamic capital market instrument and Shari'ah-compliant investment alternative, plays an important role in this context. However, the demand for sukuk and its determinants are not well understood by policymakers and industry practitioners in Uzbekistan. This study aims to address this research gap by utilizing an ordinal logit model on primary data collected through a survey of 196 individuals from diverse demographic and professional backgrounds, with varying levels of IF and capital market knowledge and experience. The regression results indicate that factors such as prior investment experience, knowledge of sukuk, and a strong inclination toward Shari'ah-compliant investments positively influence an individual's intent to buy sukuk. Conversely, we found that residents of Tashkent (the capital city) are less likely to invest in sukuk compared to residents of other regions in Uzbekistan or those residing abroad. Based on this study's findings, several essential policy and practical recommendations are provided to relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aimed to compare the Quality of Accounting Information (QAI) of publicly traded companies in markets with distinct levels of economic development, represented by France, Brazil and other Latin American countries (the latter together). Methodology: The methodological approach was quantitative, with the use of descriptive and exploratory statistics, and regression with unbalanced panel data. The data used involved the following periods: French market, from 1987 to 2017; Brazilian, from 1995 to 2017 and Latin American, from 1989 to 2015. Results: The results pointed out structural differences of QAI in financial statements between the analyzed markets, indicating that the more developed one presents better QAI. Contributions of the Study: The practical contribution of this research can subsidize investor decisions, while the academic knowledge generated reveals that markets in diverse economic contexts present different levels of QAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on how will capital markets look like in the future, identifying the new trends in this field. Given the fact that the main challenges of our time are finacing the transition to a green and low-carbon economy and dealing with digital disruption, the future capital markets will be digital due to innovation by technologies such as automated advice, robo-advisory service which involves a low cost of the financial advice service. Also the future of capital markets can be defined by the trading algorithms which quickly process information in high-frequency trading and by the distributed ledgers technology (DLT), which could change the backbone of the stock market, considering that modern technology enables stock markets to be faster and more complex than ever. As we gaze into the future of capital markets, one of the most promising trends is the utilization of AI to promote sustainability in finance. This paper delves into the transformative potential of AI in reshaping capital markets, highlighting emerging trends and its profound impact on promoting sustainability in financial ecosystems. So, the capital markets will undoubtedly evolve in the future as technological advancements, particularly the integration of new and traditional artificial intelligence capabilities, transform the financial ecosystem into a faster, smarter, and more efficient system.

Econometrics is a branch of economics that uses mathematical and statistical methods to study quantitative and qualitative relationships within economic phenomena. The purpose of this article is to study the impact of the capital market (financial instruments) on economic growth in Kazakhstan and the CIS countries through an understanding of the concept of “econometrics”. The task of the study is to determine the dependence of gross domestic product as a resultant factor over the past 20 years. Methods. The article determines the assessment of the impact of financial factors on economic growth in the short term. An econometric model was used for this purpose. The resulting factor was the gross domestic product over the past 20 years. Results. The results indicate that the capital market influences economic growth in Kazakhstan and the CIS countries. This paper presents a model of the GDP function for the economy of Kazakhstan. In the course of the study, coefficients and variables of the model were estimated to predict the level and future changes in the country’s GDP. Thus, the size of the capital market (Y1) depends on the following variables tested in the model: the number of securities issuance transactions; the volume of securities issuance transactions; the number of transactions of non-residents with shares at the secondary auction of KASE; the rate of change of shares of leading issuers on KASE

The creation of the effective stock market is considered as one of the important tasks for the further development of the national economy since the beginning of the 90s of the XX century. The issue became especially important after the activation of European integration processes in Ukraine since the conclusion of the Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014. On July 1, 2021, the Law of Ukraine On Capital Markets and Organized Commodity Markets, entered into force. Since this time, the Law was repeatedly amended, but never amended the to clarification of the general terms on stocks. Therefore, it is currently possible to claim that the Law does not comply with the principle of a unified approach in formulating the definitions of a number of similar concepts and that the concepts contained in the Law are not consistent with the terminology of related laws. The purpose of the article is a critical analysis of the basic terms on stocks in the current legislation of Ukraine, the identification of the problems in the definitions and the application of terms, as well as the justification of recommendations for improving the basic legislation on stock markets. The author found progressive changes in the general terms on stocks in the Law of Ukraine On Capital Markets and Organized Commodity Markets. The main are: 1) a group of derivative stocks is disclosed; 2) the definition of emission stocks have been renewed; 3) the specific composition of bonds has been expanded and specified; 4) the terminological structure «savings (deposit) certificate» is divided in two; 5) the classification of securities according to the «form of existence» criterion has been modernized. According to the research, the changes and additions to the basic terms on stocks are proposed in the in the Laws of Ukraine On Capital Markets and Organized Commodity Markets, On Circulation of Bills of Exchange in Ukraine, On the National Bank of Ukraine, the Civil Code of Ukraine and other acts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate risk represents an increasingly vital issue to countries, companies, and institutional investors, making it a reality but not a distant threat to humanity. Considering the effects of climate risks on firms’ financial indices and financing options, the study investigates whether climate risk is priced by the capital markets of South Africa. The study used reported carbon emissions as a measure of climate risk of 81 listed companies in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2020 to examine whether climate risk is considered and priced by the South Africa capital market. Data was sourced from DataStream database- a global financial and macroeconomic time-series database providing data on equities, stock market indices, currencies, company fundamentals, fixed income securities, and key economic indicators. We used the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments estimation technique that copes with endogeneity concerns to corroborate the effects of climate risk on cost of capital and capital structure. We find that climate risk is priced in both cost of debt capital and cost of equity capital. Specifically, we find that an increase in a firm’s exposure to climate risk increases the cost associated with issuing debt and equity capital. We also find that climate risk exposure decreases the debt-equity ratio. Additionally, the study showed that firm size, leverage ratio, capitalization, profitability, and turnover affect both cost of capital and capital structure of listed firms. The study concludes that climate risk is priced in cost of financing in the capital market of South Africa. The study recommends that firms should invest in installing ecofriendly machinery that aligns with changing market expectations in order to reduce their carbon emissions. The study therefore highlights the need for companies to proactively assess and manage climate risks, incorporate climate considerations into their strategic decision-making, and enhance their resilience to climate-related challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the market responses to concurrent earnings and stock split announcements for evidence on the information content of stock splits. The majority of stock split research excludes splits announced with other information events due to confounding issues. However, it is difficult to extract the information content of splits by merely focusing on the standalone split announcement because stock splits are devoid of any information regarding firms' future cash flows. This study explicitly considers how a stock split is evaluated in conjunction with current earnings. This study shows that the market reacts more positively to earnings news concurrently announced with stock splits, consistent with the idea that splits are favorable news. Furthermore, this study finds that stock returns of concurrent split–earnings announcers exhibit a greater association with future cash flows, suggesting that investors should value stock splits favorably for more persistent earnings ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous stakeholders concur that tackling the climate change effect requires massive financial mobilization from the public and private sectors to reduce the climate financing gap. Capital markets are among the key players fostering this mobilization by issuing green financial instruments and facilitating capital flows to green investments. The study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis to fill a knowledge gap by evaluating the status and linkages in the literature on capital markets' green financial instrument issuances. We utilized the Bibliometrix R package and VOS viewer to analyze 314 relevant publications from the Web of Science in 2017–2023 following the Sustainable Stock Exchanges' green finance voluntary action plan. The analysis entailed mapping the scientific production trends, journal significance, author productivity, keyword linkages, emerging and trending topics, and collaborations within social structures. Further, the study assessed the applicability of Bradford's, Zipf's, and Lotka's bibliometric laws. We highlight six conclusions based on the analysis, their relevance to various stakeholders, and future research directions. The findings are essential in enhancing the decision-making process of policymakers, corporations, responsible investors, and researchers interested in understanding the effectiveness and impact of green financial instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on how will capital markets look like in the future, identifying the new trends in this field. Given the fact that the main challenges of our time are finacing the transition to a green and low-carbon economy and dealing with digital disruption, the future capital markets will be digital due to innovation by technologies such as automated advice, robo-advisory service which involves a low cost of the financial advice service. Also the future of capital markets can be defined by the trading algorithms which quickly process information in high-frequency trading and by the distributed ledgers technology (DLT), which could change the backbone of the stock market, considering that modern technology enables stock markets to be faster and more complex than ever. As we gaze into the future of capital markets, one of the most promising trends is the utilization of AI to promote sustainability in finance. This paper delves into the transformative potential of AI in reshaping capital markets, highlighting emerging trends and its profound impact on promoting sustainability in financial ecosystems. So, the capital markets will undoubtedly evolve in the future as technological advancements, particularly the integration of new and traditional artificial intelligence capabilities, transform the financial ecosystem into a faster, smarter, and more efficient system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the burgeoning peer-to-peer (P2P) economy, exemplified by platforms such as Airbnb, and its implications within the North American context. The study focuses on understanding the repercussions of Airbnb announcements on capital markets, concentrating specifically on the travel and tourism sector and the real estate sector. The findings unveil a discernible augmentation in index returns preceding the announcement's publication in both sectors. However, a notable divergence manifests post-announcement: while the real estate sector sustains an upward trajectory in returns, the travel and tourism sector experiences a post-publication decline. These results underscore the strategic advantage available to investors with early access to Airbnb announcements, enabling them to capitalize on excess profits. Furthermore, the broader investor community can leverage the insights gleaned from Airbnb announcements for financial gains. A nuanced examination of regression results reveals the substantial impact of macroeconomic variables on index returns in both the travel and tourism sector and the real estate sector. These insights contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping these economic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational capabilities have a key influence on firm performance. Ordinary capabilities, a prominent classification advocated by capability scholars, allow a firm to perform its primary functional activities. Past research indicates that there are limits to the contributions of ordinary capabilities to firm performance, but largely has explored it via contingent effects in an industry context. We argue, however, that these limits also are a function of the development of market-supporting institutions. In this paper, we investigate the effect of capital market development – a key pillar of market-supporting institutions – on a firm's use of two ordinary capabilities, operations and marketing. We trace the heterogeneity of this effect for two key firm resources, investments in R&D and financial slack, that are indicative of different strategies pursued by firms. We test our three-way interaction model using a sample of Indian firms over a twenty-year period of institutional reforms. Our findings contribute to integrating the organizational capability and institutional theory literature and advancing research on the sustainability of firm profits in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Financial performance analysis is of vital importance those involved in a business (e.g., shareholders, creditors, partners, and company managers). An accurate and appropriate performance measurement is critical for decision-makers to achieve efficient results. Integrated performance measurement, by its nature, consists of multiple criteria with different levels of importance. Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods have become increasingly popular for solving complex problems, especially over the last two decades. There are different evaluation methodologies in the literature for selecting the most appropriate one among over 200 MCDA methods. This study comprehensively analyzed 41 companies traded on the Borsa Istanbul Corporate Governance Index for 10 quarters using SWARA, CRITIC, and SD integrated with eight different MCDA method algorithms to determine the position of Turkey's most transparent companies in terms of financial performance. In this study, we propose "stock returns" as a benchmark in comparing and evaluating MCDA methods. Moreover, we calculate the "rank reversal performance of MCDA methods". Finally, we performed a "standard deviation" analysis to identify the objective and characteristic trends for each method. Interestingly, all these innovative comparison procedures suggest that PROMETHEE II (preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations II) and FUCA (Faire Un Choix Adéquat) are the most suitable MCDA methods. In other words, these methods produce a higher correlation with share price; they have fewer rank reversal problems, the distribution of scores they produce is wider, and the amount of information is higher. Thus, it can be said that these advantages make them preferable. The results show that this innovative methodological procedure based on 'knowledge discovery' is verifiable, robust and efficient when choosing the MCDA method.

We investigate the link between the rule of law and equity returns in post-transitional economies over the period January 2010–December 2020 by using panel data regressions. By applying several rule-of-law proxies for national legal frameworks and justice system quality as proxies for the rule-of-law principle, the data sets from the capital markets of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia showed that country-level judicial system quality is an important driver of company market performance, and that post-transitional countries with lower rule-of-law measures exhibit higher returns on equity than those with better measures. Our results support the idea that since poor governance and country instability increase agency and transaction costs, in addition to decreasing growth prospects and profitable projects available to companies, the risk premium demanded by investors increases, leading to higher equity returns.

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) applications consist of techniques that enable the decision maker to make clearer decisions in scenarios where there is more than one alternative and criterion. The general approach for sensitivity analysis in MCDA applications implies sensitivity to the weight coefficient. In this study, as an alternative approach, we reinterpret sensitivity by using the statistical relationship between the final ranking produced by an MCDA method and a constant external factor. Thus, we both verify through an anchor and reveal to what extent the change in the weight coefficient changes the external relations of MCDA. The motivation for this study is to propose an alternative sensitivity methodology. On the other hand, brand value is a parameter that contains critical information about the future of the company, which has not integrated into financial performance studies made with MCDAs before. To that end, the financial performance of 31 companies with the highest brand value in Turkey and trading on Borsa Istanbul between 2013 and 2022 was analyzed with seven different MCDA applications via integrating brand value into the criteria for the first time. The study's findings revealed that the proposed innovative sensitivity tests produced similarly robust results as traditional tests. In addition, brand value has been proved to be an advantageous criterion to be implemented into MCDAs for financial performance problems through the sensitivity analysis made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial performance analysis is of vital importance those involved in a business (e.g., shareholders, creditors, partners, and company managers). An accurate and appropriate performance measurement is critical for decision-makers to achieve efficient results. Integrated performance measurement, by its nature, consists of multiple criteria with different levels of importance. Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods have become increasingly popular for solving complex problems, especially over the last two decades. There are different evaluation methodologies in the literature for selecting the most appropriate one among over 200 MCDA methods. This study comprehensively analyzed 41 companies traded on the Borsa Istanbul Corporate Governance Index for 10 quarters using SWARA, CRITIC, and SD integrated with eight different MCDA method algorithms to determine the position of Turkey's most transparent companies in terms of financial performance. In this study, we propose "stock returns" as a benchmark in comparing and evaluating MCDA methods. Moreover, we calculate the "rank reversal performance of MCDA methods". Finally, we performed a "standard deviation" analysis to identify the objective and characteristic trends for each method. Interestingly, all these innovative comparison procedures suggest that PROMETHEE II (preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations II) and FUCA (Faire Un Choix Adéquat) are the most suitable MCDA methods. In other words, these methods produce a higher correlation with share price; they have fewer rank reversal problems, the distribution of scores they produce is wider, and the amount of information is higher. Thus, it can be said that these advantages make them preferable. The results show that this innovative methodological procedure based on 'knowledge discovery' is verifiable, robust and efficient when choosing the MCDA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Global capital markets are sensitive to extreme and physical events. This research explores the influence of COVID-19 on cross-border arbitrage strategies in emerging markets. Specifically, this study develops a novel cross-market pairs trading strategy centered on healthcare stocks, tailored for the unique dynamics of the emerging market environment. The feasibility of cross-border arbitrage strategies in emerging markets is demonstrated by comparing the performance of the strategy before and after the outbreak. Additionally, sensitivity analysis of the risk preference factors before and after the COVID-19 outbreak further supports this argument. These findings offer valuable insights for international investors seeking arbitrage between emerging and other markets and, effectively responding to global shocks.

Introduction: In the era of globalization and information technology, fintech is transforming the financial sector, including fintech securities crowdfunding, which is a funding model based on the participation of many small investors. In the context of sharia, sharia principles regulate financial transactions and services, while crowdfunding fintech securities is a popular phenomenon in sharia funding, but requires investor protection regarding investment risk and legal protection. Purposes of the Research: To analyze the legal certainty of protection for investors who invest in Islamic funding through fintech securities crowdfunding in Indonesia and analyze the risks faced by investors in this context. Methods of the Research: This study uses qualitative normative legal research methods to understand legal certainty and investor protection in Islamic funding through Fintech Securities Crowdfunding. Data collection was carried out through literature study and then analyzed qualitatively to identify patterns, themes and related issues. Results of the Research: Sharia funding through Fintech Securities Crowdfunding in Indonesia provides attractive Islamic investment opportunities but also involves various risks such as business risk, liquidity, legal, sharia, and others. Legal certainty regulated by Financial Services Authorityand Sharia Supervisory Board is the key in providing protection to investors. OJK regulations ensure information transparency and compliance with sharia principles, so that investors can invest with confidence according to sharia values. Thus, an investment ecosystem that has integrity and is inclusive within the sharia framework can be realized.

Islamic finance (IF) holds significant potential for economic development and the enhancement of financial inclusion in Uzbekistan. Sukuk, as a key Islamic capital market instrument and Shari’ah-compliant investment alternative, plays an important role in this context. However, the demand for sukuk and its determinants are not well understood by policymakers and industry practitioners in Uzbekistan. This study aims to address this research gap by utilizing an ordinal logit model on primary data collected through a survey of 196 individuals from diverse demographic and professional backgrounds, with varying levels of IF and capital market knowledge and experience. The regression results indicate that factors such as prior investment experience, knowledge of sukuk, and a strong inclination toward Shari’ah-compliant investments positively influence an individual’s intent to buy sukuk. Conversely, we found that residents of Tashkent (the capital city) are less likely to invest in sukuk compared to residents of other regions in Uzbekistan or those residing abroad. Based on this study’s findings, several essential policy and practical recommendations are provided to relevant stakeholders.

This review aims to examine the impact of increasing energy costs on the global economy, social cohesion, economic growth, and capital markets, with a particular focus on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. The methodology involves an extensive review of recent academic literature to cast light on these impacts. The study identifies significant disruptions in supply chains and heightened volatility in international capital markets due to these crises. Furthermore, the findings highlight the resulting challenges for policymakers, academics, market analysts, and professionals in addressing corporate sustainability in an increasingly uncertain environment. This paper underscores the continued relevance of energy issues as a central concern, both independently and in connection with broader economic sectors. Additionally, it discusses the importance of policy measures to enhance energy security and the transition towards sustainable energy solutions to mitigate these challenges and foster economic resilience.

The new millennium crises have fueled the debate about free running markets management, in some parts of Europe. This is having considerable consequences for corporations that need to raise funds to invest in job-creating facilities or in improving productivity necessary to compete with new producers from Asia. Increasing volumes of trade historically required rules and government regulation. In this article organizational theoretical frameworks are used to understand dynamism and change in financial operations, and in this line rules are here approached as progressive legal adjustments to good practice. Historical evidence is the methodology used in this paper, to highlight significant changes in the conceptualization about the organizations that have to supply financial services, especially when external shocks affect SMEs and their needs.

This study explores the financial performance and economic impact of British investment in the Colombian National Railway Company, the largest British direct investment in Colombia during the first period of globalisation. It aims to ascertain the railway's impact on the regional economy and explain why it failed as a going concern. It explores three dimensions: the use of guaranteed railway bonds, the financial performance of the company, and the economic impact within different sectors of the local economy. The article implements existing methods such as financial analysis, internal rate of return, social savings, counterfactual analysis, and tailors these to a case study methodology for a micro business history of a single company. The article provides three main conclusions. Railway bond guarantees were critical to completion of the railway but detrimental to its long-term financial viability. The company was operationally profitable but stymied by construction delays. The railway contributed to growth of the export sector, internal agricultural trade, and government revenues. Contributions include tailoring the social savings method to a local rather than national focus, re-evaluation of the role of railways in Colombian economic growth, and exploring the influence of railways on internal trade within Latin American economies. Supplemental data for this article is available online at .This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of recurring natural disasters caused by climate change, firms are under enormous pressure to reconsider their environmental footprints. However, whether or not investors reward firms' climate change actions remains a topic of considerable debate. Using a sample of S&P 500 companies over the period 2005–2020, we hypothesise and find a significant negative relationship between climate change actions and the cost of debt, indicating that investors indeed reward corporate climate efforts in the form of lower cost funds. This relationship exists in both environmentally sensitive and non‐sensitive industries and remains negative and statistically significant even after controlling for the impact of the ongoing pandemic (COVID‐19). The findings are robust to the use of alternative measures for our variables, alternative estimation methods and after controlling for endogeneity issues. We interpret our findings within the decision‐usefulness and stakeholder‐agency theories that suggest that non‐financial information on firms' environmental performance is becoming increasingly important when borrowers' creditworthiness is assessed. Our study offers important regulatory and academic policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: Fintech companies should optimize banking sector performance in assisting enterprise financing as a result of firm digitalization. Artificial IoT-based fintechbased digital transformation can relevantly reverse credit resource misdistribution brought about by corrupt relationship chains. Purpose of the article: We aim to show that fintech can decrease transaction expenses and consolidates firm stock liquidity, enabling excess leverage decrease and cutting down information asymmetry and transaction expenses across capital markets. AI- and IoT-based fintechs enable immersive and collaborative financial transactions, purchases, and investments in relation to payment tokens and metaverse wallets, managing financial data, infrastructure, and value exchange across shared interactive virtual 3D and simulated digital environments. Methods: AMSTAR is a comprehensive critical measurement tool harnessed in systematic review methodological quality evaluation, DistillerSR is harnessed in producing accurate and transparent evidence-based research through literature review stage automation, MMAT appraises and describes study checklist across systematic mixed studies reviews in terms of content validity and methodological quality predictors, Rayyan is a responsive and intuitive knowledge synthesis tool and cloud-based architecture for article inclusion and exclusion suggestions, and ROBIS appraises systematic review bias risk in relation to relevance and concerns. As a reporting quality assessment tool, the PRISMA checklist and flow diagram, generated by a Shiny App, was used. As bibliometric visualization and construction tools for large datasets and networks, Dimensions and VOSviewer were leveraged. Search terms were "fintech" + "artificial intelligence", "big data management algorithms", and "Internet of Things", search period was June 2023, published research inspected was 2023, and selected sources were 35 out of 188. Findings & value added: The growing volume of financial products and optimized operational performance of financial industries generated by fintech can provide firms with multifarious financing options quickly. Big data-driven fintech innovations are pivotal in banking and capital markets in relation to financial institution operational efficiency. Through datadriven technological and process innovation capabilities, AI system-based businesses can further automated services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data breach disclosure laws are state-level disclosure mandates intended to protect individuals from the consequences of identity theft. However, we argue that the laws help reduce shareholder risk by encouraging managers to take real actions to reduce firms' exposure to cyber risk. Consistent with this argument, we find an on-average decrease in shareholder risk, proxied by cost of equity, after the staggered passage of these laws. We also find the effect is attenuated for firms that already took real actions to manage cyber risk before the laws. Further, after these laws, firms are more likely to increase cybersecurity investments and have a cybersecurity officer. Finally, we observe positive abnormal returns on key dates related to the passage of these laws. Our collective evidence suggests that consumer protection disclosure mandates can benefit shareholders and, specifically, that regulators can use disclosure mandates to incentivize managers to reduce firms' exposure to cyber risk. Data Availability: All data used in this study are publicly available. JEL Classifications: G120; G340. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper is a continuation of research in the series that examines the weak form of the efficient capital markets theorem in Southeast European transitioning economies. Model modifications are based on learnings through the previously established inapplicability of foreign exchange metrics. At the same time, the model is being expanded by incorporating new research markets, extending the time coverage to the longest duration to date, between 2005 and 2021, to cover economic bust and recovery periods and research inherent improvements in the capital market context, and adding new variables to provide more sturdiness and conclusiveness. Methodology: The paper applies the panel pooled mean group estimator by aggregating cross-country data. By using level series prime data instead of differentials, this method enables efficient use of information and resolves at best the identified market shallowness. Results: The statistical results of empirical research infer the inefficiency of the investigated markets with greater robustness and supplementary new information revealing more powerful corrective investor and policy behavior in collectively more mature markets. Conclusions: The findings firmly reiterate subpar capital markets performance in a prolonged and more comprehensive environment. The recommendations conclusively emphasize the importance of structural reforms to support sustainability through elementary setup drivers, such as transparency, governance, judiciary productivity, and policy support, inter alia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venture capital and private equity represent established asset categories utilized for funding formal entrepreneurial endeavors, often drawing investments from adept fund managers who typically refrain from engaging in informal ventures. However, it is not well investigated how informal economic activities impact resource allocation in private equity. In this paper, we analyze private equity data from 32 economies across Europe and the Asia Pacific region, spanning from 1996-2017. Utilizing a random effects estimation technique, we find that shadow economies have a strong negative impact on private equity investment and inhibit the positive effect of both stock markets and GDP per capita on private equity investment. This suggests that despite a thriving stock market for exit opportunities and favorable wealth conditions facilitating the supply side, economies witness constrained private equity investments due to the existence of informal sectors. This research makes a significant contribution to the cross-country private equity literature and offers valuable policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper is a continuation of research in the series that examines the weak form of the efficient capital markets theorem in Southeast European transitioning economies. Model modifications are based on learnings through the previously established inapplicability of foreign exchange metrics. At the same time, the model is being expanded by incorporating new research markets, extending the time coverage to the longest duration to date, between 2005 and 2021, to cover economic bust and recovery periods and research inherent improvements in the capital market context, and adding new variables to provide more sturdiness and conclusiveness. Methodology: The paper applies the panel pooled mean group estimator by aggregating cross-country data. By using level series prime data instead of differentials, this method enables efficient use of information and resolves at best the identified market shallowness. Results: The statistical results of empirical research infer the inefficiency of the investigated markets with greater robustness and supplementary new information revealing more powerful corrective investor and policy behavior in collectively more mature markets. Conclusions: The findings firmly reiterate subpar capital markets performance in a prolonged and more comprehensive environment. The recommendations conclusively emphasize the importance of structural reforms to support sustainability through elementary setup drivers, such as transparency, governance, judiciary productivity, and policy support, inter alia.

This paper analyzes the evolution of the Argentine gross domestic product between 1875-2010. It intends to analyze its trajectory over time according to the periods of greater or lesser economic integration that the country experienced. An explanation of the poor performance that occurs between 1970-2010 (second globalization) is presented and compared with the period 1885-1914 (first globalization). This paper presents a series of graphic arguments that will allow us to analyze the evolution of the Argentine gross product from 1885 to 2010. It is not intended to explain or investigate the specific causes or reasons for the prosperity or depression that Argentina experienced in each of its episodes. Instead, an attempt is made to present longterm stylized facts seeking to compare moments of opening versus those of a closed economy over which the country oscillated in order to analyze long-term growth and economic volatility.

Purpose – This study aims to examine the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and the capital structure of Latin American firms. Design/methodology/approach – The sample included companies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The authors collected data from 201 non-financial companies between 2009 and 2018, totalizing 1,716 firm-year observations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression models with panel data. Findings – The main results indicated that chief executive officer duality, legal protection system and corporate social responsibility voluntary disclosure impact the firm's total debt ratio, corresponding to a positive effect for the first two variables and a negative for the last. Originality/value – This study advances in two main ways. Firstly, due to the broad approach in which the authors addressed corporate governance, involving board composition, ownership structure, minority shareholders legal protection system and information disclosure. Secondly, by presenting empirical evidence about the effects of corporate governance on capital structure from an extensive sample of Latin American firms, the authors expect to contribute to the international debate on the capital structure due to the unique characteristics of Latin America in this regard.

A blockchain is a decentralized ledger of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network. Using this technology, participants can confirm transactions without a need for a central clearing authority. Potential applications can include fund transfers, settling trades, voting and many other issues. Blockchain, sometimes referred to as distributed ledger technology (DLT), makes the history of any digital asset unalterable and transparent through the use of decentralization and cryptographic hashing. The purpose of this paper leads to an analysis of the question: if Bitcoin is already here, why have thousands of additional cryptocurrencies been launched? The answer is that several other cryptocurrencies aim to compete with Bitcoin as general purpose currencies. Coins and tokens - all except Bitcoin are known as altcoins - and their purpose is to meet specific needs.

Our research is based on an examination of capital market dynamics in four European countries, namely Poland, Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, during the pandemic crisis. The paper is divided into two parts and examines the relationship between macro-financial variables and the major stock market indices of Western European (UK, Germany, and Austria) and Eastern European markets. The analysis is based on the use of the autoregressive vector model (VAR), which shows that during the global pandemic crisis, macroeconomic factors had a significant impact on the financial performance of Eastern European countries' financial markets. In the second part, the correlation of the yields of the stock indices from the countries of Western and Eastern European countries is analyzed, using the multivariate GARCH model.

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) applications consist of techniques that enable the decision maker to make clearer decisions in scenarios where there is more than one alternative and criterion. The general approach for sensitivity analysis in MCDA applications implies sensitivity to the weight coefficient. In this study, as an alternative approach, we reinterpret sensitivity by using the statistical relationship between the final ranking produced by an MCDA method and a constant external factor. Thus, we both verify through an anchor and reveal to what extent the change in the weight coefficient changes the external relations of MCDA. The motivation for this study is to propose an alternative sensitivity methodology. On the other hand, brand value is a parameter that contains critical information about the future of the company, which has not integrated into financial performance studies made with MCDAs before. To that end, the financial performance of 31 companies with the highest brand value in Turkey and trading on Borsa Istanbul between 2013 and 2022 was analyzed with seven different MCDA applications via integrating brand value into the criteria for the first time. The study’s findings revealed that the proposed innovative sensitivity tests produced similarly robust results as traditional tests. In addition, brand value has been proved to be an advantageous criterion to be implemented into MCDAs for financial performance problems through the sensitivity analysis made.