Ranking of Mutually Exclusive Investment Projects: How Cash Flow Differences can solve the Ranking Problem

The discussion about the best method to be used in capital budgeting has been long and intensive. Differences between Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return seem to cause everlasting problems, while especially the Internal Rate of Return often is neglected as an appropriate measure. A famous example of the problems caused by the different approaches is the ranking of mutually exclusive projects. The following paper is presenting an easy explanation, without introducing new and more complicated measures, but by simply explaining the nature of and differences between Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return.Capital budgeting, internal rate of return, net present value, ranking problem, incremental approach, reinvestment rate

Profitability Analysis in the Egyptian Banking Sector

The paper is analyzing current problems of the Egyptian banking sector, which is dominated by public banks. The reported problems include a massive proportion of non-performing loans in the banks’ credit portfolios as well as significant profitability problems, especially in the public banks. Some empirical data is gathered using a bank-specific Return on Equity-Analysis. Results support the reported problems and also show some structural weaknesses of both public and private banks.Privatization, non-performing loans, return on equity analysis, banks, Egypt

The Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Bank Performance in Egypt

Recent economic reforms in Egypt have significantly improved its macroeconomic indicators and financial sector. Banks have witnessed significant merger and acquisition activity as a result of these reforms in attempts to privatize and strengthen the banking sector. This study measures the performance of Egyptian banks that have undergone mergers or acquisitions during the period 2002-2007. This is done by calculating their return on equity using the Basic ROE Scheme in order to determine the degree of success of banking reforms in strengthening and consolidating the Egyptian banking sector. Our findings indicate that not all banks that have undergone deals of mergers or acquisitions have shown significant improvements in performance and return on equity when compared to their performance before the deals. Furthermore, extensive analysis was performed yielding the same results. It was concluded that mergers and acquisitions have not had a clear effect on the profitability of banks in the Egyptian banking sector. They were only found to have minor positive effects on the credit risk position. These findings do not support the current process of financial consolidation and banking reforms observed in Egypt, and provide weak evidence to support their constructive role in improved bank profitability and economic restructure.Mergers and Acquisitions, Egypt, Banks, ROE, Performance Measurement, Reforms, ROA

Carry Trade with Maintained Currencies - A Risk and Return Analysis for the Egyptian Pound

The forward premium puzzle in the exchange rate market, resulting from the deviation and failure of interest rate parity, has awakened the interest of speculators to perform carry trade activities. Across literature the main risk associated and measured for carry trade has been the exchange rate risk and crash risk related to the relevant currencies used. But within the literature, the influence of maintained currencies on the carry trade results has not yet been covered. This paper analyzes the potential performance and the risk of carry trade strategies within a maintained exchange rate regime. For this analysis an empirical study of carry trade strategies applied between the EGP and other currencies has been used and compared to those with the USD as an example for a maintained exchange rate. Our risk and return analysis clearly shows a combination of high return and low risk for the maintained currency carry trade.Carry Trade Performance, Uncovered Interest Parity, Maintained Exchange Rates, Value at Risk

The More the Merrier? Detecting Impacts of Bank Regulation After the Global Financial Crisis

Governments worldwide reacted swiftly to the global financial crisis by tougher regulations. This paper investigates the impacts of the regulatory environment on operating costs using panel data of 2,200 German banks over the timeframe from 1999 to 2014. We estimate cost functions with and without proxies for regulation and analyze the results with respect to period, bank size, and group affiliation. Our results show that regulatory costs were peaking in 2001, 2008, and lately since 2012. Most interesting, however, is the asymmetry of regulation: Whereas the cost effects were symmetric for all banks until 2003, the last ten years were different. Larger institutions and savings banks could neutralize the impacts of increasing regulation on operating costs. In contrast, smaller banks, especially if they are cooperative banks, were facing significant cost increases. We therefore expect unintended structural shifts like a reduction in the diversity of banks, which are negative for competition, service quality, and for the stability of the financial system