Portfolio construction is fundamental to the investment management process. In the 1950s, Harry Markowitz demonstrated the benefits of efficient diversification by formulating a mathematical program for generating the "efficient frontier" to summarize optimal trade-offs between expected return and risk. The Markowitz framework continues to be used as a basis for both practical portfolio construction and emerging research in financial economics. Such concepts as the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), for example, provide the foundation for setting benchmarks, for predicting returns and risk, and for performance measurement. This volume showcases original essays by some of todaya (TM)s most prominent academics and practitioners in the field (including Nobel Prize winner, Paul Samuelson) on the contemporary application of Markowitz techniques. Covering a wide spectrum of topics, including portfolio selection, data mining tests, and multi-factor risk models, the book presents a comprehensive approach to portfolio construction tools, models, frameworks, and analyses, with both practical and theoretical implications.

China is now among the top hosts for foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the world. This fact, combined with recent developments in internationalisation and economic growth in China, ensures a perfect opportunity to identify the determinants and impact of FDI in the largest transition economy in the world. Based on the latest official data, this book adopts a panel data approach to the analysis of the national and regional determinants of inward FDI in China and its impact on regional economic growth, labour productivity and international trade. The Chinese evidence shows that FDI, international trade and economic-growth are interrelated. This book will be welcomed by scholars of emerging economies, international business - especially those interested in FDI - and international trade as well as those specialising in the Chinese economy.

All over the world a growing number of people are viewing trading the markets as a valuable source of additional income or even as a new career option. Sitting in front of a PC, they are able to connect to their broker's trading platform and buy or sell on the world market assets of all kinds: gold, oil, shares, bonds, and so forth. Today, it is no longer a problem to "be short" on almost any class of asset. This book is an ideal guide on how to make money by fast trading. It will be especially valuable for those wishing to trade in their spare time with a limited amount of capital. Different styles of trading, including scalping, day trading, and swing trading, are clearly described, with advice on how to avoid common mistakes. In addition, the "Donkey" trading system - a system designed for everybody - is fully explained. Using this book, the reader will learn how to manage risk safely, maximizing the likelihood of success.

There is unrelenting pressure, particularly on taxation authorities in developing and transition countries, to design tax incentives to attract foreign investment. Although experience shows that justification for the use of such incentives can be found only in limited circumstances, policy makers everywhere continue to confer tax benefits on investors in the hopes of achieving various economic objectives. In this widely-researched volume, a leading consultant and academic in the field of international taxation surveys the major forms of FDI tax incentives in theory and in practice. Although it is not intended as a design guide for national taxation authorities, the books scope and depth make it an indispensable source of comparative analysis, showing where efficiency and cost-effectiveness are most likely to lie in a wide range of economic situations. It is particularly valuable in its discussion of the following issues: Avoiding the race to the bottom that comes from excessive tax competition;The elusive distinction in many countries between standard and special tax rates;The perceived benefits of FDI for the various stakeholders;Locational determinants;Risk factors;Distortionary effects;Sectoral competition; andAdministrative monitoring of compliance. Professor Easson draws on numerous actual patterns that arise in various national, supranational, and sectoral contexts, in each instance shedding light on real conflicts and constraints, and clarifying the choices required of investors, taxation authorities, and target enterprises. Tax Incentives for Direct Investment will clearly be of great use to government policymakers, students of international taxation and international business, and those who determine and advise on the policies of multinational corporations and other international investors.

Until now, most socially responsible and impact investments have centred on developed markets, with growth potential and investment opportunities in the frontier economies of countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam being mostly overlooked. While some individuals and organizations have begun to develop responsible investment opportunities with these countries in mind, large new sources of capital for development could still emerge. This book explores the greater potential for global investment in Southeast Asia, and the ways in which socially responsible investment styles can be used in their developing economies. It demonstrates how the benefits of investment could create a robust platform for separate stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations, development banks, the financial sector, and small and medium sized enterprises. The author explores how shaping collaborative sustainable investment policies could speed up inclusive development, address the needs of those at the bottom of the pyramid, and ensure sustainable future growth.

Are you young and feeling left behind financially? It doesn’t have to be this way. The UK’s leading millennial money expert, Iona Bain, is on a mission to help young people own their futures, once and for all. Low wages, high house prices, zero reward for saving and the catastrophic fallout from Covid-19... young people have had a rough ride. But we have a choice. We can sleepwalk into a poorer future – or we can transform our prospects by embracing the power of investing. Iona is here to demystify savings, pensions and investing for a new generation. Whether it's robo-advisers or auto-enrolment, green investing or forex on Instagram, Iona will break down what it all means so YOU can take charge of your long-term finances. In this fun, wise and incredibly helpful book, Iona explains why investing matters. She also shows you how to get your basic finances right, save for your first home and make your pension socially responsible. You'll find out all about the rewards and risks of online investing, from sexy stockpicking apps to digital wealth managers, and learn how to manage your long-term finances so you can avoid major mistakes and achieve your goals. Investing often gets a bad rep thanks to the Wolf of Wall Street, social media scams and high-rolling money men. In fact, investing has never been more accessible, more interesting – and more important. It’s the single biggest thing that we can do to change our lives, and society, for the better. So what are you waiting for? Let’s start owning it!

What are the links between things as diverse as the prices of pork bellies, interest rates, and corporate stock? They are all being translated into risk and priced through the system of derivative markets. Financial derivatives are now the largest form of financial transaction in the world, and they are transforming in pervasive ways the lived experience of capitalist economies. Financial derivatives are anchoring the global financial system and challenging the conventional understanding of ownership, money and capital. These challenges are examined in this book, providing a significant reinterpretation of contemporary capitalism that will be of interest to both social scientists and conventional finance scholars.

Praise for The Mathematics of Derivatives

"The Mathematics of Derivatives provides a concise pedagogical discussion of both fundamental and very recent developments in mathematical finance, and is particularly well suited for readers with a science or engineering background. It is written from the point of view of a physicist focused on providing an understanding of the methodology and the assumptions behind derivative pricing. Navin has a unique and elegant viewpoint, and will help mathematically sophisticated readers rapidly get up to speed in the latest Wall Street financial innovations."
--David Montano, Managing Director JPMorgan Securities

"A stylish and practical introduction to the key concepts in financial mathematics, this book tackles key fundamentals in the subject in an intuitive and refreshing manner whilst also providing detailed analytical and numerical schema for solving interesting derivatives pricing problems. If Richard Feynman wrote an introduction to financial mathematics, it might look similar. The problem and solution sets are first rate."
--Barry Ryan, Partner Bhramavira Capital Partners, London

"This is a great book for anyone beginning (or contemplating), a career in financial research or analytic programming. Navin dissects a huge, complex topic into a series of discrete, concise, accessible lectures that combine the required mathematical theory with relevant applications to real-world markets. I wish this book was around when I started in finance. It would have saved me a lot of time and aggravation."
--Larry Magargal

This text provides a comprehensive introduction to the practice of Islamic banking and finance, an increasingly important area in the field of Finance. The authors cover current issues and concepts pertinent to Islamic finance, from the Islamic worldview and economics, to Shariah compliance, Islamic contracts and insurance.

Asset management standards are crucial for building trust between investors and capital market experts. The issue of corporate governance has been thrown into the spotlight by the disastrous collapse of Enron and the implications for the industry. The proposed standards are relevant for the entire fund industry, regulators, providers of pension plans, and portfolio managers. Produced in association with the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies, this book aims to provide a well-founded basis for development of the content of asset management standards in the UK, the US, and the EU. It contains a detailed overview of the current position, outlines planned developments and discusses underlying problems.

Updated and revised, this second edition applies advanced financial analytics within a strategic framework that recognizes an environment where sustainable competitive advantage is a progressively more difficult task. Real options offer the link to value and the strategic opportunities that lie in an increasingly dynamic landscape.

Leverage Python for expert-level volatility and variance derivative trading Listed Volatility and Variance Derivatives is a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of these increasingly popular derivatives products, and has the distinction of being both the first to cover European volatility and variance products provided by Eurex and the first to offer Python code for implementing comprehensive quantitative analyses of these financial products. For those who want to get started right away, the book is accompanied by a dedicated Web page and a Github repository that includes all the code from the book for easy replication and use, as well as a hosted version of all the code for immediate execution. Python is fast making inroads into financial modelling and derivatives analytics, and recent developments allow Python to be as fast as pure C++ or C while consisting generally of only 10% of the code lines associated with the compiled languages. This complete guide offers rare insight into the use of Python to undertake complex quantitative analyses of listed volatility and variance derivatives. * Learn how to use Python for data and financial analysis, and reproduce stylised facts on volatility and variance markets * Gain an understanding of the fundamental techniques of modelling volatility and variance and the model-free replication of variance * Familiarise yourself with micro structure elements of the markets for listed volatility and variance derivatives * Reproduce all results and graphics with IPython/Jupyter Notebooks and Python codes that accompany the book Listed Volatility and Variance Derivatives is the complete guide to Python-based quantitative analysis of these Eurex derivatives products.

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.

Moving Beyond Modern Portfolio Theory: Investing That Matters tells the story of how Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) revolutionized the investing world and the real economy, but is now showing its age. MPT has no mechanism to understand its impacts on the environmental, social and financial systems, nor any tools for investors to mitigate the havoc that systemic risks can wreck on their portfolios. It's time for MPT to evolve. The authors propose a new imperative to improve finance's ability to fulfil its twin main purposes: providing adequate returns to individuals and directing capital to where it is needed in the economy. They show how some of the largest investors in the world focus not on picking stocks, but on mitigating systemic risks, such as climate change and a lack of gender diversity, so as to improve the risk/return of the market as a whole, despite current theory saying that should be impossible. "Moving beyond MPT" recognizes the complex relations between investing and the systems on which capital markets rely, "Investing that matters" embraces MPT's focus on diversification and risk adjusted return, but understands them in the context of the real economy and the total return needs of investors. Whether an investor, an MBA student, a Finance Professor or a sustainability professional, Moving Beyond Modern Portfolio Theory: Investing That Matters is thought-provoking and relevant. Its bold critique shows how the real world already is moving beyond investing orthodoxy.

The futures industry is unique, entertaining and, for far too many people, ultimately heartbreaking. What other industry possesses such an entertaining cast of soothsayers, self-proclaimed experts and charlatans? Where else do people become fabulously wealthy simply by acting on their own convictions? And where else does the possibility of failure loom so large and so constant? No other book captures the essence of the futures industry better than Winner Take All. With a penetrating intelligence and a sharp wit, Bill Gallacher dissects many of the industry's leading lights, exposing the frauds, deflating the pompous and poking fun at the seers who believe they can predict the future. Along the way, he demonstrates why most traders lose and, most importantly, what it takes to win. Winner Take All is a book for all traders. For those who believe in easy-money trading systems, it is a sobering antidote. For those who think the markets can't be beaten, it is a work of great inspiration. And for those who are trading profitably, it is an affirmation of the trading success principles. Winner Take All is a wise and profound book. But it is also perhaps the wittiest book on trading ever written. Read Mr. Gallacher on Fibonacci numbers: "Surely the medieval mathematician would be astounded at his impact on the twentieth-century commodity man. His mathematical series was constructed from observations on the incestuous copulation patterns of rabbits. Let's see, you start with a male and a female, then you take the first female offspring and you...well, better not get into it". Mr. Gallacher, a successful private trader, questions all conventional wisdom. He exposes the false premises that underliemuch of technical analysis, and he demonstrates why mechanical trading approaches - while sometimes producing marginal profits - can never provide truly superior results. Although out-of-favor in today's computer age, Mr. Gallacher shows why fundamental analysis, if conducted with insight and imagination, offers the best chance of anticipating and profiting from the big trends which regularly rock the futures markets. Ultimately, Mr. Gallacher asserts, superior trading requires vision - the ability to see what others can't, the ability to envision a major change when everybody else is caught up in the current trend and, most importantly, the courage to act on one's vision. A stellar addition to the literature of trading, Winner Take All will provide traders with inspiration and insights for many years to come.

The violent fluctuations of the Japanese Yen through the 1980s and 1990s have played a critical role in Japan's economic decline. Brendan Brown highlights the causes of the yen's bizarre behavior, and analyzes the consequences for the Japanese and global economies. Through this analysis he presents an original hypothesis, linking the periodic sharp upswings of the Yen to poor economic performance and offers a new view as to where the responsibility for failure of the Japanese currency market to function normally lies.

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.

Licensing, Selling and Finance in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries is an assessment of the turbulent state of pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century. At the same time, the book offers a cautionary evaluation of the future financing of innovation in terms of what's gone wrong and how to succeed in the future. Martin Austin explores the challenge that the pharmaceutical (and related) industries face in terms of balancing short term, cost containment and expenditure control in areas such as internal research and development; whilst embracing in-licensing and the acquisition of innovative therapies to counteract their impending portfolio weaknesses in the mid to longer term. The first part of the book provides an engaging and convincing perspective on the context in which the industry currently finds itself; the second part is a pragmatic guide to commercialising your intellectual property; including how to recognise and value what you have as well as the new ways of working that you will need to adopt when negotiating, collaborating and contracting in partnership and alliance with others. Commentators have described in great detail the cocktail of commercial, clinical and social issues that threaten to overwhelm the pharmaceutical industry; Martin Austin's book offers a very distinctive perspective on these issues and their solution.

This volume, based on a series analysis using up to date econometric technique, systematically investigates the role that exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) have played in China's development process, and questions the received wisdom that exports and FDI are always an unalloyed blessing. It focuses on the transmission mechanisms through which exports and FDI influence growth and economic development and investigates the impact of exports and FDIs on employment, development financing and productivity growth, amongst other issues, in China. MARKET 1: Postgraduates and scholars in the fields of international trade, development economics, and globalization