The effect of marketing strategies on firm performance: a study of furniture manufacturing SMEs in Johor Malaysia

Marketing strategies are critical to improve the performance of any small and medium-sized business in the world. The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of marketing strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises in Johor, Malaysia, by focusing on the impact of different marketing strategies on firm performance. This thesis emphases on the views of managers and owners on marketing strategies and their impact on firm performance in furniture manufacturing SMEs. The researcher test a model that reflects the expected relationship between entrepreneurial, guerrilla, relationship, ambush, viral and niche marketing strategies and firm performance. Based on a review of pertinent literature, this thesis develops a model that reflects relationship between entrepreneurial, guerrilla, relationship, ambush, viral and niche marketing strategies and firm performance. Quantitative research approach using survey design was adopted. Data was collected using close-ended questionnaires systematically distributed to a sample of 250 potential managers and owners out of which 145 were received useful for the analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as factor analysis and Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyse the data using SPSS 23 and SmartPLS 3 software. The study found that the effect of entrepreneurial marketing strategy on performance is not significant. As a result, the owner / manager of the furniture manufacturing SMEs using the guerrilla marketing strategy were found negative effect on the firm performance. Relationship marketing strategy is considered to be using this strategy, followed by niche marketing strategy is the most important determinant of marketing strategy. However, ambush marketing and viral marketing were found to have no significant impact on firm performance. This research contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge systems by providing evidence of the relationship between niche marketing strategies and their impact on firm performance

The Day of the Week Effect in the Pakistani Equity Market: An Investigation

This paper investigates the day of the week effect in the Pakistani equity market. Using daily data on eight sector indices as well as the general market index from January 1989 to December 1993, the analysis did not find, in general, significant differences in stock returns across trading days in the market. An overtime analysis indicates the presence of this anomaly in the period before the market was opened to international investors which disappeared in the later periods.Day Effect; Pakistan; Seasonality; Equity Market; Efficiency

Stock Prices, Real Sector and the Causal Analysis: The Case of Pakistan

This paper re-examines the causal relationship between stock prices and the variables representing the real sector of the Pakistani economy.Using annual data from 1959/60 to 2004/05, examining the stochastic properties of the variables used in the analysis, and taking care of the shifts in the series due to the start of the economic liberalization program in the early 1990s, the paper investigates the causal relations between stock prices and variables like real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), real consumption expenditure, and real investment spending. The analysis indicates the presence of a long run relationship between stock prices and the real sector variables. Regarding the cause and effect relationship, the analysis indicates a one-way causation from the real sector to stock prices implying that the stock market in Pakistan is still not that developed to influence the real sector of the economy. Hence the market cannot be characterized as the leading indicator of the economic activity in PakistanStock Prices; Causal Relations; Real Sector; Economic Activity; Pakistan

The Random Walk Model in the Pakistani Equity market: An Examination

This paper examines the validity of the Random Walk Model in the Pakistani equity market. The model, extensively tested in other equity markets, implies that past movements in a stock price are not helpful in predicting future prices of that stock. The model states that changes in stock prices are serially independent and conform to some probability distribution. Conventionally, the independence part is examined through Serial Correlation Test, whereas the distributional aspect is analysed through Frequency Distributions. Same techniques are applied in this paper on daily closing prices of 36 individual stocks, 8 sector indices, and a market index from January 1, 1989 to December 30, 1993. The analysis indicates that the Random Walk Model is not valid in the Pakistani equity market as is the case in other emerging markets. The results show the presence of strong serial dependence in stock returns and indicate the slow adjustment of the market to new information. This points to the weaknesses of the market regarding the dissemination of pertinent information to potential investors, indicating that effective measures should be taken in this regard. The shape of the distribution reveals that stock returns in the Pakistani market, like in other equity markets, do not comply with the normal distribution, implying that theoretical models must be used with caution.Stock Prices; Random Walk; Pakistan; Emerging Market; Normal Distribution

Stock Market Liberalisations in the South Asian Region

This study attempts to conduct an investigation of the characteristics of the South Asian stock markets including the effects of the opening of these markets. These markets were liberalised in early 1990s as a part of the economic reforms started in the South Asian region about two decades ago. The analysis is conducted for four countries in the South Asia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, covering the period from 1980 to 2003. The analysis is done with the help of tables, regression analysis, Event Window analysis, and Error Correction Functions. The analysis indicates significant development in stock markets indicators such as market capitalisation and trading value in the region following liberalisation measures. However, the development in stock markets in South Asia does not seem to influence the real sector and the stock markets are still playing a minor role in their respective economies. The integration analysis suggests that the markets in South Asia are integrated with major markets, that is, of USA, UK, and Japan. There is clear evidence that the markets in India and Pakistan are affected by the major as well as the regional markets in the long run. In the short run, however, the markets appear to be independent of one anotherStock Markets; South Asia; Liberalisation; Pakistan; India; Sri Lanka; Bangladesh; Market Integration

Causality between Money and Prices:Evidence from Pakistan

This paper re-examines the causal relationship between money and prices in Pakistan using recent data on money and prices and taking care of time series properties. The results of the paper suggest a unidirectional causality running from money to prices. Further, it seems that the monetary expansion has a greater impact on wholesale sale prices compared to CPI.Money; prices

Economic Liberalization and the Causal Relations among Money, Income, and Prices: The Case of Pakistan

This study re-examines the causal relations between money and the two variables, i.e., income and prices. Using annual data from 1959/60 to 2003/04, examining the stochastic properties of the variables used in the analysis, and taking care of the shifts in the series due to the start of the economic liberalization program in the early 1990s, we investigate the causal relations between real money and real income, between nominal money and nominal income, and between nominal money and prices. The analysis indicates, in general, the long run relationship among money, income, and prices. The analysis further suggests a one way causation from income to money in the long run implying that probably real factors rather than money supply has played a major role in increasing Pakistan’s national income. The study fails to find the active role of money in changing income even after taking care of possible shifts in these variables due to the economic reforms. As Regards the causal relationship between money and prices, the analysis suggests a unidirectional causality from money to prices implying monetary expansion increases inflation in Pakistan.Money; Income; Prices; Economic Liberalization; Causal Relations; Pakistan

The Stock Market and the Economy in Pakistan

This paper re-examines the causal relationship between stock prices and macro variables like consumption expenditure, investment spending, and economic activity (measured by GDP) in Pakistan. Using annual data from 1959-60 to 1998-99 and applying cointegration and error correction analysis, the paper indicates the presence of long-run relationship between stock prices and macro variables. Regarding the cause and effect relationship, the analysis indicates a one-way causation from macro variables to stock prices, implying that in Pakistan fluctuations in macro variables cause changes in stock prices. The findings suggest that the stock market in Pakistan is not that developed to play its due role in influencing aggregate demand. A disturbing feature of the stock market in Pakistan is that it cannot be characterised as the leading indicator of economic activity. In the absence of other strong indicators, shooting up of stock prices may indicate a speculative bubble.