Computational finance is increasingly important in the financial industry, as a necessary instrument for applying theoretical models to real-world challenges. Indeed, many models used in practice involve complex mathematical problems, for which an exact or a closed-form solution is not available. Consequently, we need to rely on computational techniques and specific numerical algorithms. This book combines theoretical concepts with practical implementation. Furthermore, the numerical solution of models is exploited, both to enhance the understanding of some mathematical and statistical notions, and to acquire sound programming skills in MATLAB (R), which is useful for several other programming languages also. The material assumes the reader has a relatively limited knowledge of mathematics, probability, and statistics. Hence, the book contains a short description of the fundamental tools needed to address the two main fields of quantitative finance: portfolio selection and derivatives pricing. Both fields are developed here, with a particular emphasis on portfolio selection, where the author includes an overview of recent approaches. The book gradually takes the reader from a basic to medium level of expertise by using examples and exercises to simplify the understanding of complex models in finance, giving them the ability to place financial models in a computational setting. The book is ideal for courses focusing on quantitative finance, asset management, mathematical methods for economics and finance, investment banking, and corporate finance.

This revised and fully expanded edition of Understanding Investments continues to incorporate the elements of traditional textbooks on investments, but goes further in that the material is presented from an intuitive, practical point of view, and the supplementary material included in each chapter lends itself to both class discussion and further reading by students. It provides the essential tools to navigate complex, global financial markets and instruments including relevant (and classic) academic research and market perspectives. The author has developed a number of key innovative features. One unique feature is its economic angle, whereby each chapter includes a section dedicated to the economic analysis of that chapter's material. Additionally, all chapters contain sections on strategies that investors can apply in specific situations and the pros and cons of each are also discussed. The book provides further clarification of some of the concepts discussed in the previous edition, thereby offering a more detailed analysis and discussion, with more real-world examples. The author has added new, shorter text boxes, labeled "Market Flash" to highlight the use of, or changes in current practices in the field; updates on strategies as applied by professionals; provision of useful information for an investor; updates on regulations; and anything else that might be relevant in discussing and applying a concept. This second edition also includes new sections on core issues in the field of investments, such as alternative investments, disruptive technologies, and future trends in investment management. This textbook is intended for undergraduate students majoring or minoring in finance and also for students in economics and related disciplines who wish to take an elective course in finance or investments.

The ultimate test of corporate strategy, the only reliable measure, is whether it creates economic value for shareholders. Now, in this substantially revised and updated edition of his 1986 business classic, Creating Shareholder Value, Alfred Rappaport provides managers and investors with the practical tools needed to generate superior returns. After a decade of downsizings frequently blamed on shareholder value decision making, this book presents a new and indepth assessment of the rationale for shareholder value. Further, Rappaport presents provocative new insights on shareholder value applications to: (1) business planning, (2) performance evaluation, (3) executive compensation, (4) mergers and acquisitions, (5) interpreting stock market signals, and (6) organizational implementation. Readers will be particularly interested in Rappaport's answers to three management performance evaluation questions: (1) What is the most appropriate measure of performance? (2) What is the most appropriate target level of performance? and (3) How should rewards be linked to performance? The recent acquisition of Duracell International by Gillette is analyzed in detail, enabling the reader to understand the critical information needed when assessing the risks and rewards of a merger from both sides of the negotiating table.

The shareholder value approach presented here has been widely embraced by publicly traded as well as privately held companies worldwide. Brilliant and incisive, this is the one book that should be required reading for managers and investors who want to stay on the cutting edge of success in a highly competitive global economy.

What does it take to successfully launch and scale a startup in Asia? While much of modern business literature covers Silicon Valley and its founders, building a company in Asia-a world center of technology and innovation-is a vastly different journey, and not nearly as widely covered. This book aims to change that. Asian Founders at Work is an essential compilation of in-depth, incisive interviews with over 20 top technopreneurs from the region. Authors Ezra Ferraz and Gracy Fernandez have gathered their exclusive conversations with business leaders: Min-Liang Tan (Razer), Maria Ressa (Rappler), Chatri Sityodtong (ONE Championship), Patrick Grove (iflix), and Khailee Ng (500 Startups) are just a few. Questions about early difficulties, fundraising, business pivots, strategic partnerships, exits via acquisition or IPO, and more are answered in great detail to shine a light on the founders' unique experiences. Learn directly from game-changers in their own voice. By documenting these stories, the authors have created the largest and most comprehensive record of successes to date. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur yourself, a business student wanting to become well-versed in international practices, or an owner looking to expand to the area, this book provides a thorough guide to the startup culture in Asia from the most knowledgeable sources possible. What You Will Learn Gain business knowledge of practices that are localized to Asia Become familiar with essential startup topics, including product development, user acquisition, recruiting, and fundraising Study individual companies and founders, and an overview of startup culture Who This Book Is For Those in the tech ecosystem in East, Southeast, and South Asia, including aspiring founders or current founders who have started their entrepreneurial journey. This book is also for people outside of Asia who have an interest in the region. Entrepreneurs or businesspeople can refer to this book as they consider expansion into the area. Researchers and readers can pick up this book if they are curious about the business landscape of Asia and want to hear directly from game-changing founders.

Filling a gap in existing literature on revenue management systems, this book explores the use of business strategies which are specifically designed to have a positive impact on economic and financial efficiency. Focussing on services within the tourism industry, the author takes a new approach and identifies dynamic pricing and service differentiation as key components of strategic management. Providing fresh insights into an ever-expanding sector, this book will be a useful tool for those studying business strategy and management, as well as value creation theory, as it ultimately presents an integrated business management model which will ensure sustainability.

A practitioner's guide to the role and implications of performance measurement and attribution analysis in asset management firms Practical Portfolio Performance Measurement and Attribution is a comprehensive reference and guide to the use and calculation of performance returns in the investment decision process. Focusing on real-world application rather than academic theory, this highly practical book helps asset managers and investors determine return on assets, analyse portfolio behaviour and improve performance. Author Carl R. Bacon clearly describes each of the methodologies used by performance analysts in today's financial environment whilst sharing valuable insights drawn from his experience as a Director of Performance Measurement & Risk Control. The third edition is revised to reflect recent developments in performance attribution and presentation standards. Fully up-to-date chapters cover the entire performance measurement process, including return calculations, attribution methodologies, risk measures, manager selection and presentation of performance information. Written by an acknowledged leader in global investment performance standards, performance attribution technique and risk measurement Aligns with the publication of the 2020 Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS(R)) Explains the mathematical aspects of performance measurement and attribution in a clear, easy-to-understand manner Provides numerous practical and worked examples of attribution analysis and risk calculations supported by Excel spreadsheets Includes signposts for the future development of performance measurement Practical Portfolio Performance Measurement and Attribution, Third Edition, remains a must-have for performance analysts and risk controllers, portfolio managers, compliance professionals and all asset managers, owners, consultants and servicing firms.

Financial reporting is a strategic means of communication: management has an opportunity to interpret, and the power to deliver, what is materially important to the organization's stakeholders. Understanding materiality means steering the company in the right direction, and many internal management battles regarding what and how to disclose in external financial reporting run on the verge of materiality. This book offers an integrated perspective of materiality from the angles of accounting (IFRS, US GAAP and SEC Rules and Regulations), auditing, internal control over financial reporting, management commentary, financial analysis, management control, forensic analysis, sustainability reporting, corporate responsibility, assurance standards, integrated reporting, and limited legal considerations. In Materiality in Financial Reporting: An Integrative Perspective, the author adopts a practical, operational approach to show how strategy, processes, and communication can be used to devise a consistent corporate governance system of materiality.

Why and in what ways have lawyers been importing economic theories into a legal environment, and how has this shaped scholarly research, judicial and legislative work? Since the financial crisis, corporate or capital markets law has been the focus of attention by academia and media. Formal modelling has been used to describe how capital markets work and, later, has been criticised for its abstract assumptions. Empirical legal studies and regulatory impact assessments offered different ways forward. This book presents a new approach to the risks and benefits of interdisciplinary policy work. The benefits economic theory brings for reliable and tested lawmaking are contrasted with important challenges including the significant differences of research methodology, leading to misunderstandings and problems of efficient implementation of economic theory's findings into the legal world. Katja Langenbucher's innovative research scrutinises the potential of economic theory to European legislators faced with a lack of democratic accountability.

Ensure that you're using the most up-to-date data available: Buy the 2017 Valuation Handbook - U.S. Industry Cost of Capital + Quarterly PDF Updates together! The most recent cost of capital data for approximately 180 U.S. industries, identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code The 2017 Valuation Handbook - U.S. Industry Cost of Capital provides valuation professionals with the same type of rigorous industry-level analysis previously published in the green-cover Morningstar/Ibbotson Cost of Capital Yearbook (now discontinued). The 2017 Valuation Handbook - U.S. Industry Cost of Capital provides up to eight cost of equity capital and weighted average cost of capital (WACC) estimates for each of the U.S. industries covered in the book, plus capital structure, valuation (trading) multiples, sales, market capitalization, several levered and unlevered beta estimates (e.g., ordinary-least squares (OLS) beta, sum beta, downside beta, etc.), financial and profitability ratios, equity returns, aggregate forward-looking earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rates, and more. The 2017 Valuation Handbook - U.S. Industry Cost of Capital includes data through March 31, 2017, and is intended to be used for 2017 valuation dates. For more information about Duff & Phelps valuation data resources published by Wiley, please visit www.wiley.com/go/valuationhandbooks. Also Available 2017 Valuation Handbook - U.S. Guide to Cost of Capital 2017 Valuation Handbook - International Guide to Cost of Capital 2017 Valuation Handbook - International Industry Cost of Capital Key Features Access cost of capital estimates and betas for approximately 180 U.S. industries Reference industry-level valuation multiples, growth rates, sales, capital structure, profitability ratios, plus statistics that enable the user to gauge the impact of "debt-like" off-balance-sheet items on the capital structure of the subject industry Use the information in this book to (i) benchmark, (ii) augment, and (iii) provide additional support for your own custom analyses of the industry in which a subject business, business ownership interest, security, or intangible asset resides

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. Combating Fiscal Fraud and Empowering Regulators analyzes the impact of new international tax regulations on the scope and scale of tax evasion, tax avoidance, and money laundering. These are analyzed through an ecosystem framework in which, similar to a natural ecosystem, new tax regulations appear as heavy shocks to the tax ecosystem, to which the 'species' such as countries, corporations, and tax experts will react by looking for new loopholes and niches of survival. By analyzing the impact of tax reforms from different perspectives-a legal, political science, accounting, and economic one-one may derive an assessment of the reforms and policy recommendations for an improved international tax system. The ultimate goal is to combat fiscal fraud and empower regulators, in that line, this volume is intended for a broad audience that seeks to know more about the latest state of the art in the realm of taxation from a multidisciplinary perspective. The money involved amounts to billions in unpaid taxes that could be better used for stopping hunger, guaranteeing education, and safeguarding biodiversity, hence making this world a better one. Regulators can see this book as a guiding light of what has happened in the past forty years, and how the world has and will continue to change as a result of it. Combating Fiscal Fraud and Empowering Regulators is also a warning about new emerging tax loopholes, such as freeports or golden passports and visas, where residency can be bought in tax havens, even within the European Union. The main message is that inequality can and has to be reduced substantially and that this can be achieved through a well-working international tax system that eliminates secrecy, opaqueness, and tax havens.

A just-in-time guide for revamping distressed companies

Drawn from the author's decades of experience advising, purchasing, and reviving distressed companies across industries, geographies, and sizes, "Reversing the Slide" is designed to help executives, managers, and employees revitalize downtrodden companies. It shows how to: select the tactics appropriate for each stage of distress; understand the use of entrepreneurial concepts; avoid pitfalls common to turnarounds; determine the legal, financial, strategic, and operational steps in the process; discover why the principal of "ready, fire, aim" should guide the decision-making process in situations with time pressure and significant uncertainty; and uncover the secrets of effective leadership and governance.Contains step-by-step instructions for helping troubled organizations bounce back with vigorOften quoted in the "Wall Street Journal," the author is an authority on restructuring and downsizingOffers a handbook for implementing a successful corporate turnaround

James Shein's "Reversing the Slide" is full of insightful advice on what works, what does not, and why it will prove invaluable to executives, managers, and employees in helping troubled companies before it's too late.

This volume highlights recent applications of multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models in the field of finance. Covering a wide range of MCDM approaches, including multiobjective optimization, goal programming, value-based models, outranking techniques, and fuzzy models, it provides researchers and practitioners with a set of MCDM methodologies and empirical results in areas such as portfolio management, investment appraisal, banking, and corporate finance, among others. The book addresses issues related to problem structuring and modeling, solution techniques, comparative analyses, as well as combinations of MCDM models with other analytical methodologies.

This book discusses the concept of sustainability valuation, a method in which corporate social responsibility (CSR) among other factors is embedded in the cash value of a given firm. It proposes a new, holistic way of representing sustainability in a theoretical framework, and discusses the role of policy in determining a firm's cash value. Moreover, it addresses the method's potential, the challenges involved in its practical application, and how it can be adapted to specific cases. By shaking up the field of firm valuation in an era characterized by global sustainable development, the book makes a valuable contribution to the available literature on finance, sustainability science, and policymaking.

This book describes a maximally simple market risk model that is still practical and main risk measures like the value-at-risk and the expected shortfall. It outlines the model's (i) underlying math, (ii) daily operation, and (iii) implementation, while stripping away statistical overhead to keep the concepts accessible. The author selects and weighs the various model features, motivating the choices under real-world constraints, and addresses the evermore important handling of regulatory requirements. The book targets not only practitioners new to the field but also experienced market risk operators by suggesting useful data analysis procedures and implementation details. It furthermore addresses market risk consumers such as managers, traders, and compliance officers by making the model behavior intuitively transparent. A very useful guide to the theoretical and practical aspects of implementing and operating a risk-monitoring system for a mid-size financial institution. It sets a common body of knowledge to facilitate communication between risk managers, computer and investment specialists by bridging their diverse backgrounds. Giovanni Barone-Adesi - Professor, Universita della Svizzera italiana This unassuming and insightful book starts from the basics and plainly brings the reader up to speed on both theory and implementation. Shane Hegarty - Director Trade Floor Risk Management, Scotiabank Visit the book's website at www.value-at-risk.com.

This book focuses on various types of crowdfunding and the lessons learned from academic research. Crowdfunding, a new and important source of financing for entrepreneurs, fills a funding gap that was traditionally difficult to close. Chapters from expert contributors define and carefully evaluate the various market segments: donation-based and reward-based crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending. They further provide an assessment of startups, market structure, as well as backers and investors for each segment. Attention is given to the theoretical and empirical findings from the recent economics and finance literature. Furthermore, the authors evaluate relevant regulatory efforts in several jurisdictions. This book will appeal to finance, entrepreneurship and legal scholars as well as entrepreneurs and platform operators.

The world of M&A has always been complex and nuanced. Corporations encounter their toughest business problems during a divestiture or a merger. At the same time, optimal execution of divestitures can also create high value for the seller as well as the buyer. This book is a collection of leading practices on Divestitures and covers end to end transaction life cycle from readiness through execution including post deal transformation. It contains the synthesis of experiences across a wide array of clients across industries, ranging from $500 million to $100 billion in revenue. Each chapter in this book can stand on its own as an authority on leading practices related to the topic it presents, and together, these chapters provide a comprehensive set of perspectives needed to successfully complete a divestiture. The highlight of the book is valuable real-life examples and references that a business can benefit from, when it is considering, analyzing or implementing a divestiture.

This is one of the first books that comprehensively explains fundamental theories of natural resource and infrastructure public private partnership (NRI-PPP) projects and project finance. NRI-PPP projects and project finance have been adopted in natural resource development, including oilfield development, mine development, and liquefied natural gas production; manufacturing, such as petrochemistry, which uses crude oil; and infrastructure-related projects such as railways, roads, airports, ports, water supply, waste treatment, communications, and electricity. An important concern during negotiations among the various stakeholders is the lack of congruence between theories underlying NRI-PPP projects and project finance and the particular, real-life business considerations of the subject project and lack of understanding of the key theories. Studies that help us understand NRI-PPP projects and project finance have been developed based on economic theories such as contract theory and the economics of law by several distinguished professors. Until now, however, in financial institutions staff in departments that specialize in project finance have developed an understanding of the theories underlying NRI-PPP projects and project finance primarily through on-the-job training during which business points of view were passed on. Principles and theories regarding NRI-PPP projects and project finance have not been taught through textbooks in these firms. In fact, there are only a few books that explain the fundamental theories for actual project structures or actual project finance. This book attempts to fill that gap by making clear the fundamental theories that exist behind the actual projects and project finance in relation to natural resources and infrastructure. Readers of this book will include not only professionals in various private sectors and banks but also those involved in PPP projects in the public sector.

This book highlights essential concepts, models, and processes that help those responsible for making pricing decisions - whether professionally or privately - to effectively engage in product pricing activities. Novel, straightforward and clearly structured, the Blackblot Market-Value Pricing (TM) Model (MVP Model), introduced in this book, employs a market-value-centric pricing process that offers step-by-step guidance on the managerial decisions that help determine a product's price. This intentionally succinct, highly readable, and practical book provides practitioners with the knowledge and tools they need in order to approach pricing activities in an organized and efficient manner.

This book examines the adverse effects of complexity, information asymmetries, transaction costs, and uncertainty on investors' decision making. It suggests mitigating those effects using appropriate and matching signals, and analyzes a sample of 903 German startups to quantitatively highlight the distinct financing patterns and characteristics of high-tech startups. It then investigates the reasons for these patterns on the basis of a qualitative study that includes 34 interviews with investors and entrepreneurs in the US and Germany and an international expert panel. Lastly, it presents a framework that matches complexity factors with appropriate productive signals.

This book addresses the integration of the Internet and finance which recently has been one of the most notable topics of discussion in the media, the business community, academia, and among policymakers, both in China and worldwide. As a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of the one of the fastest growing industries in China, the book covers all the most important areas and issues in the crowdfunding industry in China, including the definition, types, and history of crowdfunding, the scale of the crowdfunding market, the basic business models and risk analysis of crowdfunding, the characteristics of the typical crowdfunding platforms, case studies of the leading crowdfunding platforms in China, and the future development of the crowdfunding industry in China. The book combines theoretical analysis with conceptual discussions and best practices in the crowdfunding industry in China. It is of interest to a variety of readers around the globe, such as (1) existing and potential fund demanders; (2) existing and potential fund providers; (3) investors and professionals running crowdfunding platforms; (4) professionals and major shareholders of traditional financial institutions; (5) staff in regulatory government agencies; (6) academics; and (7) the general public.

This is the first book to furnish a root cause of the low valuation of Japanese listed companies by using, as qualitative evidence, unique global investor surveys, which are rarely available for Japanese companies. Also contained in this book as quantitative evidence is empirical research with regression analysis implying a positive correlation between corporate governance and value creation in Japan. The author explains the rationale underlying the suggestion of the Ito Review on return on equity (ROE) 8% guidance, an almost 50% discounted valuation of the cash held by Japanese companies, corporate value and ROE, equity spread as a key performance indicator for value creation, an optimal dividend policy based on optimal capital structure, risk-adjusted hurdle rates for value-creative investment criteria, and the synchronization of environmental, social, and governance with equity spread. Illustrated with relevant statistics, evidence of shareholders' voices, case studies, and empirical research, the book is highly recommended for readers who seek qualitative and quantitative evidence of Japan's problems and potential prescriptions in connection with value creation. "This book empirically proves the relationship between non-financial capitals defined by IIRC and corporate value, and provides a convincing method to unlock corporate value in Japan via Abenomics corporate governance reforms. A must read!" Richard S. Howitt, Chief Executive Officer, International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) "This book addresses emerging issues such as the "Power of Intangibles" in addition to IMA-defined "Equity Spread" as a gauge for value creation from the viewpoint of management accounting. It is highly recommended for finance and accounting professionals." Jeffrey C. Thomson, CMA, CAE. President and CEO, Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)