The economic climate is ripe for another golden age of shareholder activism

"Deep Value: How Shareholder Activist Hedge Funds Battle for Control of The World's Leading Corporations" is a must-read exploration of deep value investment strategy, describing the evolution of the theories of valuation and shareholder activism from Graham to Icahn and beyond. The book combines engaging anecdotes with industry research to illustrate the principles and methods of this complex strategy, and explains the reasoning behind seemingly incomprehensible activist maneuvers. Written by an active value investor, "Deep Value" provides an insider's perspective on shareholder activist strategies in a format accessible to both professional investors and laypeople.

The Deep Value investment philosophy as described by Graham initially identified targets by their discount to liquidation value. This approach was extremely effective, but those opportunities are few and far between in the modern market, forcing activists to adapt. Current activists assess value from a much broader palate, and exploit a much wider range of tools to achieve their goals. "Deep Value" enumerates and expands upon the resources and strategies available to value investors today, and describes how the economic climate is allowing value investing to re-emerge. Topics include: Target identification, and determining the most advantageous endsStrategies and tactics of effective activismUnseating management and fomenting changeEyeing conditions for the next M&A boom

Activist hedge funds have been quiet since the early 2000s, but economic conditions, shareholder sentiment, and available opportunities are creating a fertile environment for another golden age of activism. "Deep Value: How Shareholder Activist Hedge Funds Battle for Control of The World's Leading Corporations" provides the in-depth information investors need to get up to speed before getting left behind.

The definitive guide to private equity for investors and finance professionals Mastering Private Equity was written with a professional audience in mind and provides a valuable and unique reference for investors, finance professionals, students and business owners looking to engage with private equity firms or invest in private equity funds. From deal sourcing to exit, LBOs to responsible investing, operational value creation to risk management, the book systematically distils the essence of private equity into core concepts and explains in detail the dynamics of venture capital, growth equity and buyout transactions. With a foreword by Henry Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of KKR, and special guest comments by senior PE professionals. This book combines insights from leading academics and practitioners and was carefully structured to offer: * A clear and concise reference for the industry expert * A step-by-step guide for students and casual observers of the industry * A theoretical companion to the INSEAD case book Private Equity in Action: Case Studies from Developed and Emerging Markets Features guest comments by senior PE professionals from the firms listed below: * Abraaj Adams Street Partners Apax Partners Baring PE Asia Bridgepoint The Carlyle Group Coller Capital Debevoise & Plimpton LLP FMO Foundry Group Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer General Atlantic ILPA Intermediate Capital Group KKR Capstone LPEQ Maxeda Navis Capital Northleaf Capital Oaktree Capital Partners Group Permira Terra Firma

Discover a masterful exploration of the fallacies and challenges of asset allocation In Asset Allocation: From Theory to Practice and Beyond--the newly and substantially revised Second Edition of A Practitioner's Guide to Asset Allocation--accomplished finance professionals William Kinlaw, Mark P. Kritzman, and David Turkington deliver a robust and insightful exploration of the core tenets of asset allocation. Drawing on their experience working with hundreds of the world's largest and most sophisticated investors, the authors review foundational concepts, debunk fallacies, and address cutting-edge themes like factor investing and scenario analysis. The new edition also includes references to related topics at the end of each chapter and a summary of key takeaways to help readers rapidly locate material of interest. The book also incorporates discussions of: The characteristics that define an asset class, including stability, investability, and similarity The fundamentals of asset allocation, including definitions of expected return, portfolio risk, and diversification Advanced topics like factor investing, asymmetric diversification, fat tails, long-term investing, and enhanced scenario analysis as well as tools to address challenges such as liquidity, rebalancing, constraints, and within-horizon risk. Perfect for client-facing practitioners as well as scholars who seek to understand practical techniques, Asset Allocation: From Theory to Practice and Beyond is a must-read resource from an author team of distinguished finance experts and a forward by Nobel prize winner Harry Markowitz.

Investors are tempted daily with misinformation. They make lucky bets that breed false confidence, and their high-stakes gambles can take an emotional toll. How can anyone stay focused in such a volatile profession? In Big Money Thinks Small, veteran fund manager Joel Tillinghast urges investors to act cautiously and follow five primary steps to successful investing: (1) know yourself; (2) make decisions based on your own knowledge; (3) select trustworthy and capable colleagues and collaborators; (4) avoid businesses that seem destined to fail; and (5) always search for bargains. Patience and methodical planning will pay far greater dividends than rash, bold investments. Through sensible instruction, Tillinghast teaches readers how to ask the right questions in any investing situation and think objectively and generatively about portfolio management.

Since 2008, the financial sector has been the subject of extensive criticism. Much of this criticism has focused on the morality of the actors involved in the crisis and its extended aftermath. This book analyses the key moral and political philosophical issues of the crisis and relates them to the political economy of finance. It also examines to what extent the financial sector can or should be reformed. This book is unified by the view that the financial sector had been a self-serving and self-regulating elite consumed by greed, speculation and even lawlessness, with little sense of responsibility to the wider society or common good. In light of critical analysis by authors from a variety of backgrounds and persuasions, suggestions for reform and improvement are proposed, in some cases radical reform. By placing the world of finance under a microscope, this book analyses the assumptions that have led from hubris to disgrace as it provides suggestions for an improved society. Rooted in philosophical reflection, this book invites a critical reassessment of finance and its societal role in the 21st century. This book will be of interest to academics, politicians, central bankers and financial regulators who wish to improve the morality of finance.

This book analyzes the risk cultures in China that have emerged from the entanglement of new communication technologies and financial markets, examining the role that digital media play in Asian modernity and offering an alternative narrative to that of the West. The book illustrates the impact of exclusively Chinese digital media on power dynamics within risk definition, arguing that information and communication technologies (ICTs) empower individuals, enabling them to compete with an expert-oriented risk culture controlled by Government- and banker-led media outlets. With struggles, competitions, compromises, and confrontations, major communicators in financial world are collectively producing risk cultures based on interpersonal relations instead of contractual obligations, in which insider information is valued over professional analysis. Meanwhile, investors are trapped in a risk culture paradox that they themselves have produced, as they attempt to take advantage of other actors' uncertainties and eventually produce risks for the entire market.

These important volumes focus on multinational corporations and present the most important articles seeking to explain the reasons for their appearance, their growth and their effects on both host and home countries and the world economy. They also includes literature addressing the effect of the international political economy on multinationals and their impact on the international systems. Country strategies as well as corporate ones are also included.

Grasp and apply the basic principles of technical analysis Savvy traders know that the best way to maximize return is to interpret real-world market information for themselves rather than relying solely on the predictions of professional analysts. This straightforward guide shows you how to put this into profitable action--from basic principles and useful formulas to current theories on market trends and behavioral economics--to make the most lucrative decisions for your portfolio. The latest edition of Technical Analysis for Dummies includes a brand-new chapter on making the right decisions in a bull or bear market, an updated look at unique formulas and key indicators, as well as refreshed and practical examples that reflect today today's financial atmosphere. Become an expert in spotting market trends and key indicators Get the skinny on the latest research on behavioral economics Take a deep dive into how to read market sentiment and make it work for you Get a look at the first innovation in charting for decades--straight from Japan With comprehensive coverage from charting basics to the cutting edge, Technical Analysis for Dummies includes everything you need to the make informed independent market decisions that will maximize your profits. Happy trading!

Trade you way to financial success! Are you tired of playing the "buy-and-hope" game with your stocks? Savvy stock trader Toni Turner shows you the ins and outs and ups and downs of short-term trading. You'll learn how to buy and sell stocks on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis, so you can own the right stocks at the right time. Turner's clear, common-sense advice, easy-to-follow explanations, and helpful examples will help you invest in the exciting and profitable world of short-term trading quickly and safely. In this revised edition, you'll get completely up-to-date information on: -New products such as ETFs and expanded coverage on sector investing -Resources for choosing an online broker New SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) rules and regulations -Updated charts and graphs with current examples A Beginner's Guide to Short-Term Trading is the hands-on book designed to get you actively involved in every step of the trading process. Now you can take control of your portfolio and secure the financial freedom you've always dreamed of. Start planning your trades today!

Exotic options and structured products are two of the most popular financial products over the past ten years and will soon become very important to the emerging markets, especially China. This book first discusses the products' recent development in the world and provides comprehensive overview of the major products. The book also discusses the risks of issuing and buying such products as well as the techniques to price them and to assess the risks. Volatility is the most important factor in determining the return and risk. Therefore, significant part of the book's content discusses how we can measure the volatility by using local and stochastic volatility models - Heston Model and Dupire Model, the volatility surface, the term structure of volatility, variance swaps, and breakeven volatility. The book introduces a set of dimensions which can be used to describe structured products to help readers to classify them. It also describes the more commonly traded exotic options with details. The book discusses key features of each exotic option which can be used to develop structured products and covers their pricing models and when to issue such products that contain such exotic options. This book contains several case studies about how to use the models or techniques to price and hedge risks. These case analyses are illuminating.

First published in 1990, International Bond Markets analyses how the markets in public-sector debt have developed and how they operate in a number of countries, including those with chronic budget deficits. Alongside a detailed introduction to government borrowing, chapters consider the bond markets and debt management systems of the U.S.A., Japan, France, Italy and the U.K. With governments around the world struggling to manage their huge deficits, this is a particularly relevant title to students observing the current global economic situation, and those with a general interest in public debt management and bond markets.

The effects of globalization on economy and society are highly contested subjects in academic and political arenas. This study brings an empirical perspective to the crucially important arguments that encapsulate the major debates in this area. Using quantitative data, this book addresses the shape and degree of internationalisation by focussing on the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and democracy on economic development and the effects of economic internationalisation on democracy.
The author examines democracy's effects on economic growth and considers the claim that foreign capital has a detrimental effect on democracy to show that FDI in fact plays a supporting role for democracy and creates higher growth rates than domestic capital. From these results the author suggests that policy makers should seek to encourage globalization by ensuring open access to products from poorer countries, encouraging private investment within poorer countries and that such countries should concentrate on building up human and institutional capital to attract investment.

In Time Series Analysis and Adjustment the authors explain how the last four decades have brought dramatic changes in the way researchers analyze economic and financial data on behalf of economic and financial institutions and provide statistics to whomsoever requires them. Such analysis has long involved what is known as econometrics, but time series analysis is a different approach driven more by data than economic theory and focused on modelling. An understanding of time series and the application and understanding of related time series adjustment procedures is essential in areas such as risk management, business cycle analysis, and forecasting. Dealing with economic data involves grappling with things like varying numbers of working and trading days in different months and movable national holidays. Special attention has to be given to such things. However, the main problem in time series analysis is randomness. In real-life, data patterns are usually unclear, and the challenge is to uncover hidden patterns in the data and then to generate accurate forecasts. The case studies in this book demonstrate that time series adjustment methods can be efficaciously applied and utilized, for both analysis and forecasting, but they must be used in the context of reasoned statistical and economic judgment. The authors believe this is the first published study to really deal with this issue of context.

First published in 1992, this title conducts an in-depth examination of the investment behaviour of pension funds, presenting the first econometric model in this area. Using the well-established framework of modern portfolio theory, David Blake derives a model of optimal portfolio behaviour that explains pension fund asset holdings in terms of the most important macroeconomic and cyclical indicators. He shows how factors such as industry profitability, the balance of payments and the monetary and fiscal policies of the government influence pension fund investments. Broad in scope, this reissue will be of particular value to students and academics with an interest in econometrics, investment analysis and the pension fund industry.

Anyone can buy stock in a public company, but not all shareholders are equally committed to a company’s long-term success. In an increasingly fragmented financial world, shareholders’ attitudes toward the companies in which they invest vary widely, from time horizon to conviction. Faced with indexers, short-term traders, and activists, it is more important than ever for businesses to ensure that their shareholders are dedicated to their missions. Today’s companies need “quality shareholders,� as Warren Buffett called those who “load up and stick around,� or buy large stakes and hold for long periods. Lawrence A. Cunningham offers an expert guide to the benefits of attracting and keeping quality shareholders. He demonstrates that a high density of dedicated long-term shareholders results in numerous comparative and competitive advantages for companies and their managers, including a longer runway to execute business strategy and a loyal cohort against adversity. Cunningham explores dozens of corporate practices and policies—such as rational capital allocation, long-term performance metrics, and a shareholder orientation—that can help shape the shareholder base and bring in committed owners. Focusing on the benefits for corporations and their investors, he reveals what draws quality shareholders to certain companies and what it means to have them in an investor base. This book is vital reading for investors, executives, and directors seeking to understand and attract the kind of shareholders that their companies need.

Centering on the investment and financing infrastructure of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this book puts forth the basic principles and general objectives of constructing a new investment and financing system of this magnitude. Beginning with a succinct analysis of the practical issues faced while developing the BRI's investment and financing system, the author puts forward several approaches to optimizing and reestablishing the system for the further advancement of investment and financing among and beyond the Belt and Road countries. Topics include credit rules, management and control systems, investment protection, dispute settlement and risk assessment while establishing a new mechanism that helps resolve debt defaults, checks for potential corruption and bribery, fosters new growth, and enhances information transparency. The book will be a practical reference for researchers interested in the Belt and Road Initiative and world investment and finance, as well as policymakers, financial institutions and enterprises relevant to the BRI.

The vast majority of international trade is supported by some form of trade financing: a specialized, sometimes complex form of financing that is poorly understood even by bankers and seasoned finance and treasury experts. Financing Trade and International Supply Chains takes the mystery out of trade and supply chain finance, providing a practical, straightforward overview of a discipline that is fundamental to the successful conduct of trade: trade that contributes to the creation of economic value, poverty reduction and international development, while increasing prosperity across the globe. The book suggests that every trade or supply chain finance solution, no matter how elaborate, addresses some combination of four elements: facilitation of secure and timely payment, effective mitigation of risk, provision of financing and liquidity, and facilitation of transactional and financial information flow. The book includes observations on the effective use of traditional mechanisms such as Documentary Letters of Credit, as well as an overview of emerging supply chain finance solutions and programs, critical to the financing of strategic suppliers and other members of complex supply chain ecosystems. The important role of export credit agencies and international financial institutions is explored, and innovations such as the Bank Payment Obligation are addressed in detail. Financing Trade and International Supply Chains is a valuable resource for practitioners, business executives, entrepreneurs and others involved in international commerce and trade. This book balances concept with practical insight, and can help protect the financial interests of companies pursuing opportunity in international markets.

Behavioural investing seeks to bridge the gap between psychology and investing. All too many investors are unaware of the mental pitfalls that await them. Even once we are aware of our biases, we must recognise that knowledge does not equal behaviour. The solution lies is designing and adopting an investment process that is at least partially robust to behavioural decision-making errors.

"Behavioural Investing: A Practitioner's Guide to Applying Behavioural Finance" explores the biases we face, the way in which they show up in the investment process, and urges readers to adopt an empirically based sceptical approach to investing. This book is unique in combining insights from the field of applied psychology with a through understanding of the investment problem. The content is practitioner focused throughout and will be essential reading for any investment professional looking to improve their investing behaviour to maximise returns.

Key features include:

The only book to cover the applications of behavioural finance. An executive summary for every chapter with key points highlighted at the chapter start. Information on the key behavioural biases of professional investors, including "The seven sins of fund management, Investment myth busting," and "The Tao of investing." Practical examples showing how using a psychologically inspired model can improve on standard, common practice valuation tools.

Written by an internationally renowned expert in the field of behavioural finance.

Money and Capital Markets provides the most up-to-date, practical coverage of the pricing and analysis of financial instruments and transactions available for Australian and international capital markets. Here you have the underlying tools and techniques for the valuation and risk management of short-term money market and capital market securities and their derivatives. In a clear and direct way, Michael Sherris covers fixed interest securities, forwards, futures, swaps, options and interest rate derivatives (new in the Second Edition). Everything - from yield calculations to tax and horizon effects to interest rate risk measures - is lucidly explained and extensively illustrated with examples. An invaluable reference for money market professionals, Money and Capital Markets is essential reading for tertiary students of finance, accounting and actuarial studies.

The application of real options theory to the decision making of multinational enterprises (MNEs) is an exciting new area of research within the field of international business. Such contributions will make existing theories in international business (such as internalization theory) dynamic and more realistic. This important collection presents 20 of the most significant articles that apply real options theory to international business and strategic management. The volume organizes the recent literature so that further advances can be made by international business scholars to capitalize on the power and usefulness of the real options approach. Part I includes articles that help to clarify the definitions of real options and the boundaries of applying real options theory to analyze the decision making of firms. Part II consists of applications to operational flexibility of the multinational network. Part III comprises applications to market entry modes among which joint ventures are most widely studied. Part IV refers to applications to market entry timing. Part V includes several applications to strategic management.

Twenty four years after investment managers decided to implement Standard & Poor's 500 indexing strategy, the verdict is in. The first indexers beat more than 99% of all actively managed stock funds. Over the last ten years, funds based on the S&P 500 out-performed more than 80% of all mutual funds. Today about $450 billion is indexed to the S&P 500, almost 10% of the total market value of all stocks traded in the US. The strategy has been applied to other asset classes, including bonds and real estate. In total, indexing now accounts for more than 25% of the investment methodology of all pension funds in the US. Topics include: choosing a benchmark; overview of the marketplace; using derivatives to index; performance track record versus active management; index methodology and other styles; and index price effects on constituent securities. Albert S. Neubert is director of the Domestic S&P Indexes Unit within the Equity Services Group.

The book is an economic history of the South Sea Bubble. It combines economic theory and quantitative analysis with historical evidence in order to provide a rounded account. It brings together scholarship from a variety of different fields to update the existing historical work on the Bubble. Up until now, economic history research has not been integrated into mainstream histories of 1720. Technical work on share prices and ledgers has been inaccessible to a wider audience. As well as providing new evidence against the gambling mania argument, the book also interprets the existing economic history scholarship for non-specialists.

China Inward and Outward Investment Development Report 2016 gathers facts about two-way investment of China and its local regions, providing a wealth of information for a comprehensive understanding of the country's two-way investment development.