Add another dimension to your portfolio with commodities Commodities For Dummies gives you a complete overview of the basics of investing in commodities. Step-by-step explanations, plus the most up-to-date market information and global events, make it easy to invest in the stuff the world is made of. This book helps you identify the most valuable commodities to add to your portfolio, use commodities as a safe haven in shifting economic times, and come out on top. Learn quick, with real-life examples, expert advice, and basic explanations to get you involved in energy, agriculture, and metals. Pick up this book, and you'll be ready to select the right investment vehicles for you, manage risk, and reap the benefits of investing in commodities--the Dummies way. Get a crash course in the basics of global commodity trading and investing Discover how recent global events have impacted commodity prices and supply chains Find the right balance of commodities for your portfolio--in any market weather Understand the importance of ESG and renewables in the commodity investing landscape This is the perfect Dummies guide for investors who have a good grasp of the basics and want to continue to diversify their portfolio with--you guessed it--commodities.

Advances in Management Accounting (AIMA) is a publication of quality applied research in management accounting. The journal's purpose is to publish thought-provoking articles that advance knowledge in the management accounting discipline and are of interest to both academics and practitioners. As one of the premier management accounting research journals, AIMA is well poised to meet the needs of management accounting scholars. Featured in Volume 33 are chapters on: Continuous improvement; Lean manufacturing; TQM; Capacity management; Management control systems, Performance measurement; Financial value; Value stream costing; Collaborative relationships; Strategic performance measurement systems; Competitiveness; Strategy; Budgets; Entrepreneurship; CEO characteristics; Start-ups; Financial performance; Participative budgeting; Engagement; Distributive justice; Procedural justice; Budget satisfaction; Motivation; Organizational goals; Sustainability; Management accounting; Environmental activity management; Environmental sustainability strategy; Social sustainability strategy; Triple bottom line; Performance; Incentive compensation; Financial measures; Non-financial measures; Weights; Employment time horizon

Education, employment policy, and pensions are inextricably linked and critical to any sort of business or economic revival, let alone success, and all three are addressed in Education and Employment in the European Union. In the first part of this meticulously researched and highly informative book, Dimitris Chorafas argues that European educational standards, from primary schools through to universities, leave much to be desired. The author then turns to employment. Already affected by problems with education, employment is fettered by structural issues, ranging from inflexible labour laws to heavy social costs. Here, the author suggests what might be done to get employment moving again in difficult economic times. Employment and pensions work in synergy. In the final part, Chorafas examines the implications of and future for pension provision, taking a polyvalent approach which embraces state pensions, company pensions and the workings of pension funds - as well as healthcare issues and the longevity risk. The evidenced analysis of the three interlinked policy areas in this book identifies the issues and the relationships between them. The findings and suggestions will be important to business practitioners, business educators, government authorities, policy makers, consultancies and others either within or wishing to learn lessons from the European Union.

This textbook, designed for a single semester course, begins with basic set theory, and moves briskly through fundamental, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Limits and derivatives finish the preparation for economic applications, which are introduced in chapters on univariate functions, matrix algebra, and the constrained and unconstrained optimization of univariate and multivariate functions. The text finishes with chapters on integrals, the mathematics of finance, complex numbers, and differential and difference equations. Rich in targeted examples and explanations, Mathematical Economics offers the utility of a handbook and the thorough treatment of a text. While the typical economics text is written for two semester applications, this text is focused on the essentials. Instructors and students are given the concepts in conjunction with specific examples and their solutions.

Understanding finance and accounting principles is important in interfacing and conducting business with accountants, financial analysts, and members of upper management. In a relatively simple and easy-to-understand manner, this book familiarizes professionals with decision making skills founded on financial calculations and quantitative analysis. It covers finance and accounting ratios and other metrics; income statements, balance sheets, cash flow, and working capital concepts; inventory concepts; life cycle, period, direct, and indirect costs; and energy performance contracting. Each chapter concludes with a list of questions or problems for self-assessment and knowledge affirmation purposes. Answers to the questions are at the back of the book.

This book is a 'crossover' treatment of quantitative and qualitative risk analysis within the setting of new high technology ventures in the UK. Reid and Smith have based their research on extensive fieldwork in patent-intensive, high-technology firms. This has included face-to-face interviews with leading investors, and is illustrated by two chapters of case studies. Their aim is to advance the understanding of methods of risk assessment and to illuminate current policy concerns about stimulating innovative output and securing intellectual property. This book is unique in being academic in intent and purpose, yet strongly grounded in practice, without becoming merely a practitioner volume. Reid and Smith find a considerable consensus in the venture capital industry on the spectrum of investments by risk, and on key commercial factors affecting risk. This book offers a useful and interdisciplinary approach to an increasingly popular field of study.

Efficient, compliant management systems pave the road to sustainability through integration and automation

The book addresses the many definitions of sustainability and why CEOs need the links between sustainability, business value, and performance. Business leaders are committed to leading the way, and the book outlines the support of a management system structure and business principles that will drive the accomplishment of their mission. Stakeholder demands on CEOs include many challenges. Investors are assessing companies for financial performance. The shrinking talent pool of employees is looking to work with organizations that support social, environment, and economic operating practices and principles.

Great leaders are those that ask questions, who are creative to drive innovation for growth of their company. The Assess-Reflect-Act section on international business principles defined in the book will ask you as the leader thought provoking questions to stimulate action within your organization to bring people, processes, and technology together for business success.

Leaders need to transition to smart decisions that are data driven. The company's management system structure is important to build a strong framework for business process operations and automation for global competitiveness. Topics include: Business plans vs management systemsManagement system frameworks: standardization, ISO standards: Quality -- ISO 9001, Environment -- ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, Integrated Management SystemsThree Steps for Process Development: Identify, Insure, ImproveFocus for the Organization: Compliance Costs, Best Practices, Strategic PlanningSupport -- Resources: Innovation, Engagement, Succession PlanningData as a Valuable ResourceOperation: Process Risks, Management System Control Plan, E-commerce, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Green Awareness-Eco Design, Automated Controls, Cloud ComputingPerformance Evaluation -- Monitor, Measure, Analyze, Audit, Management ReviewCompetitive Landscape

The constant need to improve internal processes and move toward business sustainability and quality standards is a major stressor for governments and businesses. With one-third of the workforce retiring in the next five to ten years, the need has become more immediate, and the focus has shifted to building a strong framework for business process operations and automation for global competitiveness. This book provides a roadmap to efficient, compliant systems, showing businesses how to build toward sustainability goals and capture key knowledge of the employees involved in the process.

In a 24/7 world and a global economy, there is no doubt that relationships impact virtually every economic transaction. In Relationship Economics, Lindon Robison and Bryan Ritchie argue that what needs to be understood is not just whether relationships matter (which, of course, they do), but also, how much, and in what circumstances they should matter. Providing a rigorous and measurable definition of the way that relationships among individuals create a capital, social capital, that can be saved, spent, and used like other forms of capital, Robison and Ritchie use numerous examples and insightful analysis, to explain how social capital shapes our ability to reduce poverty, understand corruption, encourage democracy, facilitate income equality, and respond to globalization. The first part of the book explains how social capital can be manipulated, stored, expended, and invested. The second part explores how levels of social capital within relationships influence economic transactions both positively and negatively, which in turn shape poverty levels, economic efficiency, levels and types of political participation, and institutional structures.

An indispensable collection of essays from one of the investment world's leading lights In Figuring It Out: Answers to the Most Difficult Investment Questions, world-renowned investing and finance guru Charles D. Ellis delivers a robust collection of incisive essays on an array of perennial and contemporary investing issues, from the rise and fall of performance investing to a compilation of essential investing guidelines. In the book, you'll also find eye-opening discussions of: Whether bonds are an appropriate investment vehicle for long-term investors The costs of excessive liquidity in the typical portfolio The characteristics of successful investment firms, and how to spot them A can't-miss resource for the everyday retail investor, author Charles Ellis draws on a lifetime of distinguished client service in the financial markets to reward readers with common-sense and accessible advice that deserves to be followed by anyone with an interest in maximizing their investment returns over the long haul.

Unlock the incredible potential of enterprise risk management There has been much evolution in terms of ERM best practices, experience, and standards and regulation over the past decade. Enterprise Risk Management: Today's Leading Research and Best Practices for Tomorrow's Executives, Second Edition is the revised and updated essential guide to the now immensely popular topic of enterprise risk management (ERM). With contributions from leading academics and practitioners, this book offers insights into what practitioners are doing and what the future holds. You'll discover how you can implement best practices, improve ERM tools and techniques, and even learn to teach ERM. Retaining the holistic approach to ERM that made the first edition such a success, this new edition adds coverage of new topics including cybersecurity risk, ERM in government, foreign exchange risk, risk appetite, innovation risk, outsourcing risk, scenario planning, climate change risk, and much more. In addition, the new edition includes important updates and enhancements to topics covered in the first edition; so much of it has been revised and enhanced that it is essentially an entirely new book. Enterprise Risk Management introduces you to the concepts and techniques that allow you to identify risks and prioritize the appropriate responses. This invaluable guide offers a broad overview, covering key issues while focusing on the principles that drive effective decision making and determine business success. This comprehensive resource also provides a thorough introduction to ERM as it relates to credit, market, and operational risk, as well as the evolving requirements of the board of directors' role in overseeing ERM. Through the comprehensive chapters and leading research and best practices covered, this book: Provides a holistic overview of key topics in ERM, including the role of the chief risk officer, development and use of key risk indicators and the risk-based allocation of resources Contains second-edition updates covering additional material related to teaching ERM, risk frameworks, risk culture, credit and market risk, risk workshops and risk profiles and much more. Over 90% of the content from the first edition has been revised or enhanced Reveals how you can prudently apply ERM best practices within the context of your underlying business activities Filled with helpful examples, tables, and illustrations, Enterprise Risk Management, Second Edition offers a wealth of knowledge on the drivers, the techniques, the benefits, as well as the pitfalls to avoid, in successfully implementing ERM.

The complete guide to derivatives, from experts working with CFA Institute Derivatives is the definitive guide to derivatives and derivative markets. Written by experts working with CFA Institute, this book is an authoritative reference for students and investment professionals interested in the role of derivatives within comprehensive portfolio management. General discussion of the types of derivatives and their characteristics gives way to detailed examination of each market and its contracts, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps, followed by a look at credit derivative markets and their instruments. The companion workbook (sold separately) provides problems and solutions that align with the text and allows students to test their understanding while facilitating deeper internalization of the material. Derivatives have become essential for effective financial risk management and for creating synthetic exposure to asset classes. This book builds a conceptual framework for grasping derivative fundamentals, with systematic coverage and thorough explanations. Readers will: Understand the different types of derivatives and their characteristics Delve into the various markets and their associated contracts Examine the role of derivatives in portfolio management Learn why derivatives are increasingly fundamental to risk management CFA Institute is the world's premier association for investment professionals, and the governing body for CFA(R) Program, CIPM(R) Program, CFA Institute ESG Investing Certificate, and Investment Foundations(R) Program. Those seeking a deeper understanding of the markets, mechanisms, and use of derivatives will value the level of expertise CFA Institute brings to the discussion, providing a clear, comprehensive resource for students and professionals alike. Whether used alone or in conjunction with the companion workbook, Derivatives offers a complete course in derivatives and their use in investment management.

This book looks at the effectiveness of the 1999 restructuring of the UK through the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and the Assemblies for Northern Ireland and Wales, considering the process of devolution and its consequences on the key mechanisms of accounting and democratic accountability. Many of the chapters in this book examine whether devolution is enhancing democratic accountability, or creating a fragmentary state with conflict and tensions between the Westminster government and the devolved bodies. The focus is on the financial mechanisms for democratic accountability both in the UK and in international comparator countries (New Zealand, Norway, and the US). This book examines the turbulent pattern of relationships between central and devolved government and explores whether the present arrangements for devolution in the UK represent an end game, or whether they may be merely a stepping stone to a more fully fledged federal state. It is argued that the main thrust of many of the financial reforms in the UK has confounded, obfuscated, and complicated the desire for democratic accountability.

The world of quantitative finance (QF) is one of the fastest growing areas of research and its practical applications to derivatives pricing problem. Since the discovery of the famous Black-Scholes equation in the 1970's we have seen a surge in the number of models for a wide range of products such as plain and exotic options, interest rate derivatives, real options and many others. Gone are the days when it was possible to price these derivatives analytically. For most problems we must resort to some kind of approximate method.

In this book we employ partial differential equations (PDE) to describe a range of one-factor and multi-factor derivatives products such as plain European and American options, multi-asset options, Asian options, interest rate options and real options. PDE techniques allow us to create a framework for modeling complex and interesting derivatives products. Having defined the PDE problem we then approximate it using the Finite Difference Method (FDM). This method has been used for many application areas such as fluid dynamics, heat transfer, semiconductor simulation and astrophysics, to name just a few. In this book we apply the same techniques to pricing real-life derivative products. We use both traditional (or well-known) methods as well as a number of advanced schemes that are making their way into the QF literature: Crank-Nicolson, exponentially fitted and higher-order schemes for one-factor and multi-factor options Early exercise features and approximation using front-fixing, penalty and variational methods Modelling stochastic volatility models using Splitting methods Critique of ADI and Crank-Nicolson schemes; when they work and when they don't work Modelling jumps using Partial Integro Differential Equations (PIDE) Free and moving boundary value problems in QF

Included with the book is a CD containing information on how to set up FDM algorithms, how to map these algorithms to C++ as well as several working programs for one-factor and two-factor models. We also provide source code so that you can customize the applications to suit your own needs.

From Canada's best-selling real esate author, Don R. Campbell, and his team.

From rental properties to business offices, more and more Canadians buying real estate are unwittingly setting themselves up for problems. Real estate investments and their corresponding tax policies are complicated--without knowing the tax rules, investors will see how quickly seemingly viable investments can become financial disasters. "81 Financial and Tax Tips for the Canadian Real Estate Investor" offers practical advice on successfully navigating the tax implications of property ownership, including tips on a) deductions from income; b) preparing for an audit; and c) leveraging professional help. Filled with insights and Canadian-specific tips, there's no other book like it on the market.

Performance Contracting is a must-read for those concerned about energy and the environment. It examines state-of-the-art facts and pragmatic realities from financing to measurement and verification, and includes up-to-date "how-to's" for both end users and energy service companies. Readers will find expert advice on RFPs and RFQs, tips on making an energy project investment worthy, and guidelines for effectively negotiating and developing energy services agreements. They will also learn the key strategies for managing risks, both from a user's and a service provider's point of view, as well as ways to expand business and serve customers more effectively.

A comprehensive look at the tools and techniques used in quantitative equity management

Some books attempt to extend portfolio theory, but the real issue today relates to the practical implementation of the theory introduced by Harry Markowitz and others who followed. The purpose of this book is to close the implementation gap by presenting state-of-the art quantitative techniques and strategies for managing equity portfolios.

Throughout these pages, Frank Fabozzi, Sergio Focardi, and Petter Kolm address the essential elements of this discipline, including financial model building, financial engineering, static and dynamic factor models, asset allocation, portfolio models, transaction costs, trading strategies, and much more. They also provide ample illustrations and thorough discussions of implementation issues facing those in the investment management business and include the necessary background material in probability, statistics, and econometrics to make the book self-contained.Written by a solid author team who has extensive financial experience in this areaPresents state-of-the art quantitative strategies for managing equity portfoliosFocuses on the implementation of quantitative equity asset managementOutlines effective analysis, optimization methods, and risk models

In today's financial environment, you have to have the skills to analyze, optimize and manage the risk of your quantitative equity investments. This guide offers you the best information available to achieve this goal.

Looking for steady retirement income? Read this book! Turning retirement savings into a steady income is a big step toward a worry-free retirement. This book introduces you to how to add annuities to your investment mix. It helps you evaluate how to select the best annuities for your needs and steer clear of the worst. You’ll learn how different types of annuities can help you turn your retirement savings into a monthly paycheck, protect your investments from market ups and downs, postpone taxes, stay in your home for the rest of your life, and even buy long-term care insurance for less.. Written by an annuity thought leader who is a frequent guest-expert on webcasts, podcasts and radio broadcasts as well as editor and publisher of Retirement Income Journal, the book offers the knowledge earned from interviews with hundreds of annuity industry insiders on their own turf. Get insight into which annuities do (or don’t) provide near-retirees and retirees with solid value. Stretch your savings into lifelong income Ask smarter questions when talking to an agent, broker or adviser Retire with less anxiety about the market Feel more in control of your financial life Annuities For Dummies is the must-have guide for anyone making retirement plans or managing their retirement savings.

State-of-the-art algorithmic deep learning and tensoring techniques for financial institutions The computational demand of risk calculations in financial institutions has ballooned and shows no sign of stopping. It is no longer viable to simply add more computing power to deal with this increased demand. The solution? Algorithmic solutions based on deep learning and Chebyshev tensors represent a practical way to reduce costs while simultaneously increasing risk calculation capabilities. Machine Learning for Risk Calculations: A Practitioner's View provides an in-depth review of a number of algorithmic solutions and demonstrates how they can be used to overcome the massive computational burden of risk calculations in financial institutions. This book will get you started by reviewing fundamental techniques, including deep learning and Chebyshev tensors. You'll then discover algorithmic tools that, in combination with the fundamentals, deliver actual solutions to the real problems financial institutions encounter on a regular basis. Numerical tests and examples demonstrate how these solutions can be applied to practical problems, including XVA and Counterparty Credit Risk, IMM capital, PFE, VaR, FRTB, Dynamic Initial Margin, pricing function calibration, volatility surface parametrisation, portfolio optimisation and others. Finally, you'll uncover the benefits these techniques provide, the practicalities of implementing them, and the software which can be used. Review the fundamentals of deep learning and Chebyshev tensors Discover pioneering algorithmic techniques that can create new opportunities in complex risk calculation Learn how to apply the solutions to a wide range of real-life risk calculations. Download sample code used in the book, so you can follow along and experiment with your own calculations Realize improved risk management whilst overcoming the burden of limited computational power Quants, IT professionals, and financial risk managers will benefit from this practitioner-oriented approach to state-of-the-art risk calculation.

This cutting-edge financial casebook is divided into four modules: Structuring Projects, Valuing Projects, Managing Project Risk, and Financing Projects. The cases have been carefully selected to reflect actual use of project finance over the past five years in terms of geographic location (the cases come from 15 different countries) and industrial sectors.
* Benjamin Esty, of the Harvard Business School, is one of the leading scholars in project finance.
* Project finance is becoming the financing mechanism of choice for many private firms.
* Cases require the reader to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines when making a single managerial decision. This integration of functional areas such as strategy, operations, ethics, and human resource management encourages the reader to adopt a more integrative perspective and understanding of the interconnectedness of managerial decision-making.

Get the most complete guide to running a valuable accounts payable department with Accounts Payable, Second Edition.

This updated edition continues where the successful first edition left off, providing all the critical information and guidance top professionals need to run an efficient department, complete with coverage of the innovative issues now facing the field and new material on: Encryption and digital signaturesElectronic invoicingPurchase cardsPost audit firmsPetty cashVendor fraudCertification . . . and more!

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This book presents a unified treatment of various problems arising in the theory of financial markets with friction. It gives a succinct account of arbitrage theory for financial markets with and without transaction costs based on a synthesis of ideas.

Cutting-edge insight from the leader in trading technology
In Cybernetic Analysis for Stocks and Futures, noted technical analyst John Ehlers continues to enlighten readers on the art of predicting the market based on tested systems. With application of his engineering expertise, Ehlers explains the latest, most advanced techniques that help traders predict stock and futures markets with surgical precision. Unique new indicators and automatic trading systems are described in text as well as Easy Language and EFS code. The approaches are universal and robust enough to be applied to a full range of market conditions.
John F. Ehlers (Santa Barbara, CA) is President of MESA Software (www.mesasoftware.com) and has also written Rocket Science for Traders (0-471-40567-1) as well as numerous articles for Futures and Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazines.

Idea generation for value-oriented investing, from the top names in finance The Manual of Ideas is the indispensable resource top investment firms like Berkshire Hathaway rely on for cutting edge research and investment ideas. As the definitive source for value investing opportunities, this book takes you inside the minds of the world's top money managers to learn how they generate the bright ideas that lead to big profits. This new second edition includes insights from more than 100 exclusive interviews with leading fund managers to give you access to the thought processes of super value investors including Warren Buffett, Tom Gayner, and Joel Greenblatt. Real-life case studies bring each approach to life, revealing key lessons along the way, and new tables and charts illuminate important concepts to provide a quicker, easier read. Successful investing begins with idea generation. Following the crowd will only get you so far, and the most successful investors from around the globe have developed their own approaches to identifying the right opportunities at the right time. This book lays out a gold mine of a framework to help you generate your own new and profitable value investment ideas. * Learn how the wizards of Wall Street find stocks * Apply each approach appropriately and effectively * Gain personal investing insight from leading fund managers * Identify, analyze, and implement the best value investing opportunities Creative thinking is the unexpected lifeblood of investing, which is why great ideas are the focus of this book. If you're ready to take investing to the next level, you're going to have to realign your thinking and The Manual of Ideas is your roadmap to untapped opportunity.

This essential guide to commissioning and purchasing in social care provides case studies, guidelines, and checklists to help readers to assess need, develop care plans and select suppliers of care. It clearly explains:

• the reasons for the shift to commissioning and purchasing away from direct provision
• the distinction between commissioning and purchasing
• how to ensure that the commissioning and purchasing process fully reflects the views of users and carers
• contracts and tenders
• costs and prices in relation to providing quality care
• how safeguards can be built into the commissioning and purchasing process.

This is an invaluable resource that focuses on the practical skills required to deliver effective care. It has been written for social care students, frontline staff and their managers to help them through the process.