Recently there has been a growing demand for mutual funds and how their performance compares to other funds on an international level. This significant new book focuses on the changes in some countries regarding the new paradigm of international investing through mutual funds. This is an indispensable collection of original papers on the mutual fund industry focusing on various European countries, the U.S. and New Zealand. Performance is assessed using a fresh approach, innovative techniques and various models. This book will allow the reader and practitioner to gain a perspective and understanding of mutual funds on an international level.

There is a seasonal bias to the stock market, and by paying attention to the seasonal market tendencies you can gain an edge in the stock market over the long haul. Seasonality offers a practical approach to investing and trading. What better way to learn how to employ seasonal systems than learning from Jay Kaeppel, a master in the analysis of seasonal trends? Kaeppel walks you through this phenomenon that continues to work consistently, providing you with his ultimate seasonal index to make the calendar work for you. Stock Market Seasonals provides a never-before-seen definitive guide that illustrates how to utilize a combination of four basic seasonal tendencies in order to maximize returns.

Richard Arms is one of the world's most respected stock market technicians. His expertise in this field is unparalleled, and now, with "Stop and Make Money, " he reveals how to profit from short-term price movements in the stock market--whether you're buying or selling short--by accurately interpreting price/volume information and effectively employing stop orders to enter and exit positions. With this book as your guide, you'll quickly discover how to anticipate short-term stock market moves and improve your overall trading activities.

Successful hedge fund investing begins with well-informed strategy A Guide to Starting Your Hedge Fund is a practical, definitive "how-to" guide, designed to help managers design and launch their own funds, and to help investors select and diligence new funds. The first book to examine the practical aspects of setting up and operating funds with a focus on energy commodity markets, this book scrutinises the due diligence process and comprehensively reviews the opportunities and risks of all energy commodity markets as hedge fund investments. Extensive planning and strategy advice prove invaluable to prospective fund managers and investors alike, and detailed discussion of the markets' constraints help inform procedural decisions. Readers gain insight into practical matters including legal and commercial structures, due diligence, fund raising, operations, and more, allowing them to construct a concrete investment plan before ever touching a penny. Asset managers are looking to energy commodities to provide attractive uncorrelated if volatile returns. These high returns, however, are accompanied by high risk. Few investors have experience evaluating these investment opportunities, and few prospective fund managers understand the market fundamentals and their associated risks. This book provides the answers sorely lacking in hedge fund literature, giving investors and fund managers the background they need to make smarter decisions. * Understand the markets' structures, opportunities, and risks * Develop a comprehensive, well-informed investment strategy * Conduct thorough due diligence with a detailed plan * Examine the practical aspects of fund raising, legal and tax structure, and more Oil has long been traded by hedge funds, but electricity, the fuels that generate electricity, and the environmental products like emissions allowances and weather derivatives have become the new "hot" investment strategies. These high returns come with higher risk, but A Guide to Starting Your Hedge Fund ensures participants have essential information at their disposal.

This book provides a complete analysis of the logistic market, with a special focus on performance and risk characteristics, demand and supply, and diversification strategy. The authors offer cutting-edge research and detailed case studies from countries in Europe, evaluating the market features of the logistic sector and its differences to alternative types of real estate assets. With its comprehensive overview of the logistic market, both academics and practitioners will find this an engaging study, as well as those generally wishing to gain knowledge about investing in this segment of the real estate industry.

This encyclopedic, detailed exposition spans all the steps of one-period allocation from the foundations to the most advanced developments.

Multivariate estimation methods are analyzed in depth, including non-parametric, maximum-likelihood under non-normal hypotheses, shrinkage, robust, and very general Bayesian techniques. Evaluation methods such as stochastic dominance, expected utility, value at risk and coherent measures are thoroughly discussed in a unified setting and applied in a variety of contexts, including prospect theory, total return and benchmark allocation.

Portfolio optimization is presented with emphasis on estimation risk, which is tackled by means of Bayesian, resampling and robust optimization techniques.

All the statistical and mathematical tools, such as copulas, location-dispersion ellipsoids, matrix-variate distributions, cone programming, are introduced from the basics. Comprehension is supported by a large number of figures and examples, as well as real trading and asset management case studies.

At symmys.com the reader will find freely downloadable complementary materials: the Exercise Book; a set of thoroughly documented MATLAB(r) applications; and the Technical Appendices with all the proofs. More materials and complete reviews can also be found at symmys.com.

Corporations earn incomes and amass wealth. There are many books offering advice how to increase the profitability of corporations by achieving excellence in operations and choosing the correct strategic path. Increasing Shareholder Value: Distribution Policy, A Corporate Finance Challenge is concerned with how the corporation should reward its shareholders after the incomes are earned. Investment decisions, capital structure, and dividend policy must be coordinated so that the well being of the firm's stockholders is considered in the planning process. The corporate planners should realize that the individual investors are also making plans, and the corporation can assist this planning process by making its own financial plans and strategies well known.

"In Direct Foreign Investment," scholars from business schools in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Latin America reflect on the relationship of foreign investment to the development process, examining the experience of foreign investors in a variety of national settings. They explore the complex issues relating to foreign investment and present the pros and cons of various approaches. The volume begins with general administrative ways to encourage or discourage foreign investment. There are detailed discussions on specific countries and their experiences with foreign investment, including a large Asian developing country, countries in Latin America and Europe, and Japan. Following these regional experiences are general articles examining the costs and benefits of in the international marketplace.

Construct a portfolio that is sure to outperform market averages Warren Buffett had it right all along. Now it's your turn to learn how to construct a portfolio that is sure to outperform the market averages, as well as almost every professional money manager in the world. Warren Buffett's method of predictability can determine a future target price, which in turn determines his all-important purchase price. However, Buffett doesn't draw conclusions of his predictability method relative to the future total returns of portfolios. That's where Buffett and Beyond comes in, taking Buffett's method one giant step beyond, proving that if you select a portfolio of stocks using the predictability method in this book, you will outperform 96% of professional money managers over the long term. In addition to the information in the book, readers will have access to a password-protected website that includes tutorial videos, PowerPoint slides, free trial access to a video newsletter, and a trial subscription to the author's computer program, which follows the research presented in the book. * Explains Clean Surplus Accounting (CSA) to determine Return on Owners' Equity (ROE) * Uses CSA to determine ROE in a unique way to verify Buffett's all-important purchase price * Draws conclusions between Clean Surplus Return on Equity and future total returns * Shows that every portfolio selected from the S&P 500 index with above-average Clean Surplus ROEs outperformed the S&P average during the test periods from 1987 to the present If you're an investor, this book will impact your financial life forever.

The three volumes of Interest Rate Modeling present a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of techniques and models used in the pricing and risk management of fixed income securities. Written by two leading practitioners and seasoned industry veterans, this unique series combines finance theory, numerical methods, and approximation techniques to provide the reader with an integrated approach to the process of designing and implementing industrial-strength models for fixed income security valuation and hedging. Aiming to bridge the gap between advanced theoretical models and real-life trading applications, the pragmatic, yet rigorous, approach taken in this book will appeal to students, academics, and professionals working in quantitative finance. Volume I provides the theoretical and computational foundations for the series, emphasizing the construction of efficient grid- and simulation-based methods for contingent claims pricing. The second part of Volume I is dedicated to local-stochastic volatility modeling and to the construction of vanilla models for individual swap and Libor rates. Although the focus is eventually turned toward fixed income securities, much of the material in this volume applies to generic financial markets and will be of interest to anybody working in the general area of asset pricing.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling Property Like the Experts
How do the world's most successful developers--from Donald Trump to Sam Zell--make the most of every real estate transaction? The answers are found throughout Maverick Real Estate Investing. In this one-of-a-kind book, you'll learn the secrets to making a good deal, using other people's money, establishing cash flow targets, finding the best locations, getting top legal and tax counsel, overcoming negative responses, selling at the right time, and much more. It's must reading for every aspiring real estate titan, and will give you the tools necessary to make every deal a profitable one.
"Steve Bergsman's profiles of some of the most successful investors of our time give an illustrative and illuminating insight into how the best in the business have consistently managed their risk . . . and raised their returns. If you want to make it in the competitive world of real estate investing, read this book "
--Dale Anne Reiss, Global and Americas Director of Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction Services, Ernst & Young
"For the novice--and even the experienced--investor in real estate, Steve Bergsman's book contains lots of worthwhile ideas. Better still, it clearly explains how to implement them. Easy to read and insightful, it's one of the better how-to investment guides around."
--Richard Rescigno, Managing Editor, Barron's
"I have been reading Steve Bergsman's insightful real estate reporting and commentary for over a decade. He is one of the best real estate writers in America, as evidenced by his captivating analysis in Maverick Real Estate Investing, where he melds personalities and investing principles into a very good read."
--Jonathan L. Kempner, President and Chief Executive Officer Mortgage Bankers Association

Modeling Fixed Income Securities and Interest Rate Options, Third Edition presents the basics of fixed-income securities in a way that, unlike competitive texts, requires a minimum of prerequisites. While other books focus heavily on institutional details of the bond market, all of which could easily be learned "on the job," the third edition of this classic textbook is more focused with presenting a coherent theoretical framework for understanding all basic models. The author's unified approach-the Heath Jarrow Morton model-under which all other models are presented as special cases, enhances understanding of the material. The author's pricing model is widely used in today's securities industry. This new edition offers many updates to align with advances in the research and requires a minimum of prerequisites while presenting the basics of fixed-income securities. Highlights of the Third Edition Chapters 1-16 completely updated to align with advances in research Thoroughly eliminates out-of-date material while advancing the presentation Includes an ample amount of exercises and examples throughout the text which illustrate key concepts .

Drive profit and manage risk with expert guidance on trade processing The Trade Lifecycle catalogues and details the various types of trades, including the inherent cashflows and risk exposures of each. Now in its second edition, this comprehensive guide includes major new coverage of traded products, credit valuation adjustment, regulation, and the role of information technology. By reading this, you'll dissect a trade into its component parts, track it from preconception to maturity, and learn how it affects each business function of a financial institution. You will become familiar with the full extent of legal, operational, liquidity, credit, and market risks to which it is exposed. Case studies of real projects cover topics like FX exotics, commodity counterparty risk, equity settlement, bond management, and global derivatives initiatives, while the companion website features additional video training on specific topics to help you build a strong background in this fundamental aspect of finance. Trade processing and settlement combined with control of risk has been thrust into the limelight with the recent near collapse of the global financial market. This book provides thorough, practical guidance toward processing the trade, and the risks and rewards it entails. * Gain deep insight into emerging subject areas * Understand each step of the trade process * Examine the individual components of a trade * Learn how each trade affects everything it touches Every person working in a bank is highly connected to the lifecycle of a trade. It is the glue by which all departments are bound, and the aggregated success or failure of each trade determines the entire organization's survival. The Trade Lifecycle explains the fundamentals of trade processing and gives you the knowledge you need to further your success in the market.

'John is a hero to many private investors in the UK. By tucking money away year after year, and choosing his investments wisely, he has accumulated a portfolio worth more than GBP1 million.' The Motley Fool 'I'm a big fan of the writings of John Lee. John Lee moves the market.' Monevator 'Lord (John) Lee of Trafford was one of the first UK investors to build an ISA portfolio worth more than GBP1 million, reaching that landmark in 2003.' Daily Telegraph, March 2012 John Lee is one of the UK's most successful private investors. Beginning with an investment pot of GBP125,000 in the early 1980s, by 2003 he had turned this into a thriving portfolio of over GBP1 million, and it has significantly increased in value since then. Using efficient investment methods, as well as pursuing a winning 'buy and hold' strategy, he was the UK's first ISA millionaire. In How to Make a Million - Slowly, John Lee offers invaluable lessons that will help you make the right decisions about your investments. Explaining why an unhurried portfolio is the best and most sustainable strategy for growth, you will learn how to spot opportunities, research and monitor the market, work with management and above all, make money.

This book takes an interdisciplinary approach, linking the law and policy surrounding financial markets regulation in order to fill the gap in the analysis and understanding of the most salient issues related to the role of credit rating agencies (CRAs). Key features include: A critical appraisal of the ratings information system and the potential risks of disclosure failure Questioning how regulators can shape a proper responsibility for CRAs in the aftermath of the EU civil liability regime for rating agencies introduced by the CRA Regulation 2013 and the professional liability introduced by the US Dodd-Frank Act 2010 Assessment of CRAs' liability regimes in light of the recent developments in case law Analysis of the major weaknesses in legislative reforms adopted in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, and suggestions for enhancing the current regulatory system of CRAs. The Governance of Credit Rating Agencies will be a valuable resource for those researching law and economic aspects of securities markets. Professionals in law firms with banking or financial services regulation practice, global rating firms, commercial banks, investment banks, international financial institutions and prudential regulatory agencies will also find this book an essential point of reference.

Making your capital work hard has never been more important than it is today. Investment trusts, often over looked as an investing vehicle, are a key tool in getting better returns on your money.

The Financial Times Guide to Investment Trusts is your concise and jargon free introduction to one of the City’s best kept secrets. It explains how investment trusts differ from unit trusts and OEICs and explores the pros and cons of investment trusts including their superior performance. It also helps you identify your investment objectives, discusses the basic principles of successful investing, and how to run a trust portfolio.

Whether you are a novice DIY investor or have many years’ experience and wish to question the experts; the FT Guide to Investment Trusts:

• Provides a detailed overview of what investment trusts are and how they differ from other funds
• Examines the factors which help to explain the better performance of trusts – including cheaper fees, discounts and gearing
• Analyses the stepping stones to successful investing
• Shows you how to construct and monitor a trust portfolio
• Highlights the workings of two live and benchmarked portfolios which John has been sharing with Investor Chronicle readers over the years.

Advances in Financial Risk Management presents the latest research on measuring, managing and pricing financial risk. It provides an expansive view of the latest techniques available to academics and practitioners in three critical areas: corporate, financial and portfolio risk management. It brings together both empirical and theoretical perspectives on issues that remain paramount despite financial market volatility abating in recent years.
Looking ahead, the prospects for the financial services industry are for more regulatory oversight and attention being paid to the modeling and measuring of financial risk. This volume contributes to this ongoing debate and provides valuable insights into the issues and appropriate practice of financial risk management.
Advances in Financial Risk Management is essential reading for anyone interested in better understanding the latest developments in risk management in the post-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) environment.

"A virtual bible of how economic indicators are constructed and used. Important tidbits of history are mixed with present-day nuances to explain why we should care about all the economic indicators."
?Allen Grommet, Senior Economist, Cambridge Consumer Credit Index

"This book is an indispensable resource for anyone that wants a practical understanding of the economy and how it is measured. The information is clear, concise, and will help investors at all levels leverage the vast amount of economic data available."
?Jesse Harriott, PhD, Vice President of Research, Monster Worldwide, Inc.

This updated guide to economic indicators -- what they are and what they really mean -- covers all major economic indicators, from GDP to the consumer price index. You'll not only learn what key economic measurements are and how to read and interpret them, you'll discover how to use them to make better, more-informed financial, trading, and investing decisions.

Examine the high yield market for a clear understanding of this evolving asset class High Yield Debt is the one-stop resource for wealth advisors seeking an in-depth understanding of this misunderstood asset class. The high yield market provides a diverse opportunity set, including fixed and floating rate debt, high and low quality debt issues and both short- and long-term duration; but many fail to understand that not all high yield exposure is the same, and that different market segments and strategies work best at different points in the economic cycle. This guide addresses the confusion surrounding high yield debt. You'll find the information you need to decide whether or not to buy in to a high yield fund, and how to evaluate the opportunities and risks without getting lost in the jargon. The U.S. corporate high yield market is worth $2.4 trillion more than the stock markets of most developed countries. Market growth has increased the number of funds with high yield exposure, as well as the types of debt products available for investment. This book breaks it down into concrete terms, providing the answers advisors need to effectively evaluate the opportunities on offer. * Understand the high yield asset class * Learn the debt structures, performance and defaults * Evaluate risk and investment opportunities * Penetrate the jargon to make sense of high yield investment Over 300 publicly traded funds provide exposure to U.S. high yield, but despite it's size and ubiquity, understanding of the asset class as a whole remains somewhat of a rarity even among participants. A lack of transparency is partially to blame, but the market's evolution over the past fifteen years is the larger issue. High Yield Debt explains the modern high yield market in real terms, providing a much-needed resource for the savvy investor. "Rajay Bagaria has written the first book that captures a 360 degree view of the high yield debt market. Whether you are an investor, investment banker, corporate lawyer, CFO or layperson simply trying to gain insights into the fundamentals of high yield debt, this book translates financial and legal concepts, trends and structures of high yield bonds and leveraged loans into a simple, understandable format. Mr. Bagaria s book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the new issue or secondary leveraged finance markets." Frank J. Lopez, Co-Head Global Capital Markets, Proskauer "Bagaria does a great service for both high yield professionals and beginners by providing an accessible, well-written, insightful market primer." Steven Miller, Managing Director, S&P Capital IQ, Leveraged Commentary & Data "High-Yield Debt - An Insider s Guide to the Marketplace is a comprehensive book that provides an in-depth understanding of the history, growth, basics and details of high-debt and the high-yield market. The author gives insights that only an experienced professional can provide. The book will be invaluable to readers both starting out and knowledgeable about an important segment of corporate finance, dealing with concepts, structures and performance." Arthur Kaufman, Retired Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP / Member of Adjunct Faculty, Columbia Law School

"Foreign Capital and Technology in China" brings together both Chinese and non-Chinese policy-makers, managers, and scholars to examine the role of private foreign business in China. Seventeen specialists review China's policies toward foreign capital and technology, the experience of various countries in managing the entry and performance of foreign firms, and the applicability of this experience to China. With its comprehensive coverage and expert contributors, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in U.S.-China trade relations, international business, and international finance, as well as to practitioners who desire greater understanding of the Chinese view of foreign business.

Financial Trading and Investing, Third Edition provides a useful introduction to trading and market microstructure for advanced undergraduate as well as master's students. Without demanding a background in econometrics, the book explores alternative markets and highlights recent regulatory developments, implementations, institutions and debates. The text offers explanations of controversial trading tactics (and blunders) such as high-frequency trading, dark liquidity pools, fat fingers, insider trading and flash orders, emphasizing links between the history of financial regulation and events in financial markets. It includes coverage of valuation and hedging techniques, particularly with respect to fixed income and derivative securities. The text adds a chapter on financial utilities and institutions that provide support services to traders and updates regulatory matters. Combining theory and application, this book provides a practical beginner's introduction to today's investment tools and markets with a special emphasis on trading.