An introductory text which should serve as a useful reference and guide for commerce students, public servants and members of the business fraternity alike. It gives the reader an overview of how the various institutions in the South African financial system operate as well as of the different financial markets in the South African economy and the instruments traded in those markets. This publication is aimed particularly at South African students. Each chapter starts with study objectives relevant to the material covered. Jargon that may be unfamiliar is explained in lay terms. It refers throughout to both international and local market practices and norms where relevant. Students in financial management and monetary economics will find this a helpful aid to understanding the financial markets in South Africa.

Based on the synthesis of a large empirical and theoretical literature on center-region relations in China and Russia, Federalism in China and Russia is one of the first attempts to integrate this literature from different disciplines into a coherent common framework. Libman and Rochlitz argue that the divergence in growth performance between Russia and China can be - at least partially - explained by a number of features of the Chinese system of center-regional relations. The authors offer a comparative analysis of the development of center-region relations in Russia and in China and explore several dimensions of these relations: fiscal ties and incentives; bureaucratic practices; flows of information; and local government practices, while addressing the determinants of divergence between both countries. They also examine how the Chinese system has recently started to change, by adopting several features of the Russian model, which might be one of the reasons for China's declining growth performance in recent years. Federalism in China and Russia should be read by scholars in public economics, political economy and comparative politics, as well as by students and policy analysts. For scholars, the book serves as a point of reference in studying the comparative evolution of the two countries. It will enrich the discussion on fiscal federalism, center-region relations and sub-national political regimes, and could potentially become an important part of syllabi in political economy, public economics and comparative politics courses. For policy analysts, the book offers a comprehensive survey of the evolution of center-periphery relations of the two countries and the differences between them, which is important to better understand the overall development of Russia and China.

The advancement in FinTech especially artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), has significantly affected the way financial services are offered and adopted today. Important financial decisions such as investment decision making, macroeconomic analysis, and credit evaluation are getting more complex in the field of finance. ML is used in many financial companies which are making a significant impact on financial services. With the increasing complexity of financial transaction processes, ML can reduce operational costs through process automation which can automate repetitive tasks and increase productivity. Among others, ML can analyze large volumes of historical data and make better trading decisions to increase revenue. This book provides an exhaustive overview of the roles of AI and ML algorithms in financial sectors with special reference to complex financial applications such as financial risk management in a big data environment. In addition, it provides a collection of high-quality research works that address broad challenges in both theoretical and application aspects of AI in the field of finance.

The United States has two separate banking systems today-one serving the well-to-do and another exploiting everyone else. How the Other Half Banks contributes to the growing conversation on American inequality by highlighting one of its prime causes: unequal credit. Mehrsa Baradaran examines how a significant portion of the population, deserted by banks, is forced to wander through a Wild West of payday lenders and check-cashing services to cover emergency expenses and pay for necessities-all thanks to deregulation that began in the 1970s and continues decades later. In an age of corporate megabanks with trillions of dollars in assets, it is easy to forget that America's banking system was originally created as a public service. Banks have always relied on credit from the federal government, provided on favorable terms so that they could issue low-interest loans. But as banks grew in size and political influence, they shed their social contract with the American people, demanding to be treated as a private industry free from any public-serving responsibility. They abandoned less profitable, low-income customers in favor of wealthier clients and high-yield investments. Fringe lenders stepped in to fill the void. This two-tier banking system has become even more unequal since the 2008 financial crisis. Baradaran proposes a solution: reenlisting the U.S. Post Office in its historic function of providing bank services. The post office played an important but largely forgotten role in the creation of American democracy, and it could be deployed again to level the field of financial opportunity.

From investor and popular newsletter writer with 100k+ subscribers Darius Foroux comes an approach to building wealth that applies ancient wisdom to the chaos of modern-day markets

The Stoics understood that if you can control your reactions and manage your emotions, you can achieve success. The same principles apply to our financial lives today. The greatest investors approach the markets with discipline, emotional distance, and self-mastery--lessons that the Stoics have been teaching us for thousands of years.

Combining ancient wisdom with practical investment strategies drawn from analysis of the greatest investors of all time, The Stoic Path to Wealth will teach you how to:

• cultivate an investing edge by managing your emotions and developing your unique skills and talents
• develop the discipline to ignore short-term market fluctuations and avoid living in the future
• foster a mindset that allows you to enjoy what you have and avoid greed
• create a sustainable approach to trading

Build essential foundations around the derivatives market for your future career in finance with the definitive guide on the subject. Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, Global Edition, 11th edition by John Hull, is an industry-leading text and consistent best-seller known as 'The Bible' to Business and Economics professionals. Ideal for students studying Business, Economics, and Financial Engineering and Mathematics, this edition gives you a modern look at the derivatives market by incorporating the industry's hottest topics, such as securitisation and credit crisis, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Written with the knowledge of how Maths can be a key challenge for this course, the text adopts a simple language that makes learning approachable, providing a clear explanation of ideas throughout the text. The latest edition covers the most recent regulations and trends, including the Black-Scholes-Merton formulas, overnight indexed swaps, and the valuation of commodity derivatives. Key features include: Tables, charts, examples, and market data discussions, reflecting current market conditions. A delicate balance between theory and practice with the use of mathematics, adding numerical examples for added clarity. Useful practice-focused resources to help students overcome learning obstacles. End-of-chapter problems reflecting contemporary key ideas to support your understanding of the topics based on the new reference rates. Whether you need an introductory guide to derivatives to support your existing knowledge in algebra and probability distributions, or useful study content to advance your understanding of stochastic processes, this must-have textbook will support your learning and understanding from theory to practice.

Inclusive Financial Development provides theoretical and empirical analyses of the nature of financial inclusion. The contributing authors explore the impediments to inclusion that exist around the world, the macro and stability implications, and the regulation dimension. With contributions from distinguished researchers, this book covers the main analytical and empirical issues in financial inclusion and its role in economic development. Chapters present a wide range of case studies illustrating topics such as mobile money, financial liberalization and bank efficiency, as well as highlighting the costs associated with financial exclusion and the various policy and regulatory measures that have been applied to lower the barriers to inclusion. Offering a comprehensive exploration of financial inclusion and its impediments, this important book will be welcomed by students, researchers and policy makers interested in economic development and financial regulation.

This original book examines how investment theory and regulatory constraints are linked to the professional processes of portfolio investments, and how the principles of Islam as defined by sharia fit into these processes. It also explores the measures required to create and grow a global Islamic asset management industry. Established on a foundation of Modern Portfolio Theory, the book extends the theory to include asset management based on sharia. Chapters also consider how ethical investing is quickly becoming the driving force of the $100 trillion asset management industry. Taking a practical approach, John A. Sandwick, M. Kabir Hassan and Pablo Collazzo compare conventional and sharia portfolio performance and risk through measurement tools commonly used in asset management, including Sharpe ratio, standard deviation, Value at Risk, annualized mean return, and correlation. They map conventional portfolio construction and optimization, then reproduce the same processes with real-world, sharia-compliant portfolios. This book will be critical reading for scholars and students of Islamic economics and finance, Islamic studies, and financial regulation. Considering Islamic asset management as a unique function of Islamic finance, this book will also be a useful resource for practitioners and finance professionals.