Exchange rate and interest rate exposure of UK non-financial firms and industries

Exchange rate and interest rate risk have been documented as the most managed financial risks by most UK non-financial firms and industries. This is probably because of the severe adverse effects that contrary movements in these financial risks can have on the value of the firm or industry. Nevertheless, empirical studies on these risks have been very few and predominantly limited in scope. Therefore, using a sample of 402 UK non-financial firms from 31 industries, over the period January 1990 to December 2006, this study examines the relevance of these financial risks on the stock returns of firms and industries. Following the weaknesses of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) methodology, the AR(I)EGARCH-M model was subsequently used for the estimation. The results indicated that the stock returns of UK firms and industries were more affected by long-term interest rate risk than exchange rate risk (Trade weighted index, US$/£ JP¥/£, ECU/£ and Euro/£) or even short-term interest rate risk. Furthermore, the introduction of the euro reduced the exchange rate exposure and interest rate exposure of only a few UK firms and industries. Additionally, by means of the Herfindahl index as a measure of industry concentration, competitive industries were found to exhibit a higher degree of exposure to movements in exchange rates and interest rates, and also higher volatility in returns than industries that were classified as concentrated. Then using firm specific accounting variables, the results indicated that the determinants of exchange rate exposure were different to that of interest rate exposure. Finally, it was also found that for most UK firms and industries: increased risk did not necessarily lead to an increase in returns; severe adverse movements in exchange rates and interest rates can potentially make returns more volatile; volatility of returns has time varying properties; persistence of volatility is much higher in some firms and industries than others; and the volatility of returns increased in the period after the introduction of the euro

The exposure of shipping firms’ stock returns to financial risks and oil prices: a global perspective

Shipping is an industry that is highly geared towards international trade and therefore, would seem to be highly susceptible to fluctuations in macroeconomic factors. This article investigates the impact of exchange rates, interest rates and oil prices on stock returns of 143 shipping companies from 16 countries. We also investigate the factors which determine the extent to which firm are sensitive to macroeconomic variables. Our results indicate that the low incidence of significant exposure to exchange rate and interest rates suggests that most shipping firms have utilised reasonably successful hedging strategies to reduce the impact of these macroeconomic risks. Finally, we find that, for the minority of shipping firms significantly affected by oil price increases, the effects have usually been beneficial

Can Board Gender Diversity Promote Corporate Social Performance?

Purpose: This paper examines if gender diversity on corporate boards promotes corporate social performance (CSP) across industries and across countries. Design/methodology/approach: Fixed-effect panel models are estimated using Europe-wide data from 2002 through 2013. Instrumental variable estimation and propensity score matching are also used to control for potential endogeneity. Findings: Board gender diversity (BGD) improves environmental and social performance and consequently the CSP. Although the positive effect of gender diversity is prevalent across industries, the effect is more pronounced for firms in emerging markets. Practical implications: The findings suggest that gender law that fosters gender diversity can promote CSP in firms, and the benefit can be enjoyed with just an introduction of one female director to the board. Promotion of gender diversity in Europe is most beneficial in emerging markets. Originality/value: The results provide new insights to the literature, as we find that a critical mass of female directors on boards is not required to promote CSP. The research also highlights that BGD enhances CSP irrespective of the industry, and the effect on CSP is more pronounced in emerging markets where regulations regarding CSR are not so clear-cut

Stakeholder engagement: Investors' environmental risk aversion and corporate earnings

How does investors' aversion to environmental risk affect their reaction towards firms' earnings announcements? We explore this by analyzing earnings announcements made by U.S. firms between 2002 and 2016. The results show that environmental performance at the firm level is important for investors as this influences the investment behaviors of investors who have some degree of aversion to environmental risk. These investors appreciate the earnings by firms that exhibit a high level of environmental performance, i.e., firms that have successfully addressed environmental risks. However, earnings are of secondary importance for investors who are highly averse to environmental risk since environmental concerns take precedence

The exchange rate and interest rate exposure of UK non-financial firms and industries

Exchange rate and interest rate risk have been documented as the most managed financial risks by most UK non-financial firms and industries. This is probably because of the severe adverse effects that contrary movements in these financial risks can have on the value of the firm or industry. Nevertheless, empirical studies on these risks have been very few and predominantly limited in scope. Therefore, using a sample of 402 UK non-financial firms from 31 industries, over the period January 1990 to December 2006, this study examines the relevance of these financial risks on the stock returns of firms and industries. Following the weaknesses of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) methodology, the AR(I)EGARCH-M model was subsequently used for the estimation. The results indicated that the stock returns of UK firms and industries were more affected by long-term interest rate risk than exchange rate risk (Trade weighted index, US$/£ JP¥/£, ECU/£ and Euro/£) or even short-term interest rate risk. Furthermore, the introduction of the euro reduced the exchange rate exposure and interest rate exposure of only a few UK firms and industries. Additionally, by means of the Herfindahl index as a measure of industry concentration, competitive industries were found to exhibit a higher degree of exposure to movements in exchange rates and interest rates, and also higher volatility in returns than industries that were classified as concentrated. Then using firm specific accounting variables, the results indicated that the determinants of exchange rate exposure were different to that of interest rate exposure. Finally, it was also found that for most UK firms and industries: increased risk did not necessarily lead to an increase in returns; severe adverse movements in exchange rates and interest rates can potentially make returns more volatile; volatility of returns has time varying properties; persistence of volatility is much higher in some firms and industries than others; and the volatility of returns increased in the period after the introduction of the euro.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Target gearing in the UK: A triangulated approach

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of target gearing behaviour in firms as well as the drivers of such behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs a triangulation approach across three methodological phases: a questionnaire survey, logistic regression modelling of firm data, and interviews with finance directors. The results are then discussed under the key themes of gearing optimality, valuation issues, external drivers, the finance life-cycle, the impact of risk, and the relationship between gearing and corporate strategy. Findings: The results reveal that the majority of firms engage in targeting, though targets are subject to fairly frequent revision as both external and internal drivers evolve. Important external drivers include macroeconomic variables and analysts' views, whereas important internal drivers include income gearing and profitability. Practical implications: Given the range and variety of drivers, target gearing evidently represents a complex strategic decision for finance directors. The paper provides a benchmark perspective for finance directors when determining their firm's gearing strategy. Originality/value: The innovation of the paper is the study of target gearing across three methods, the results of which are then triangulated to provide a deeper understanding of both the quantifiable and qualitative drivers of gearing. This provides a far broader insight into the real-world determination of gearing strategy than a conventional empirical approach. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Is the market surprised by the surprise?

This study examines how the market reacts to earnings surprises with different characteristics such as future earnings prospects and historical surprises embedded in the earnings announced. We also explore the effect of corporate governance on market reaction to earnings information disseminated through earnings announcements. The sample comprises of 1,620 US firms for the period 2002 – 2016. Using a regression-based approach, the results reveal that the market reacts to earnings surprises, particularly, to their sign, magnitude, persistence, and the future earnings prospects. Moreover, these different characteristics of earnings surprises are more important for negative surprises than for positive surprises. Furthermore, we find evidence for the information transparency theory that earnings announcements are a relatively more important source of information for low corporate governance firms than for high corporate governance firms. Finally, historical earnings information is more relevant for low corporate governance firms, whereas prospective earnings information is more important for high corporate governance firms. This study contributes to the extant literature by revealing that the market does not only react to the magnitude/sign of the surprises but also to other additional characteristics of earnings surprises. The study also reveals that firm governance influences how the market reacts to earnings information announced. Consequently, managers should be mindful that strengthening firm corporate governance could improve investors’ confidence in earnings announced

Does Gender Diverse Board Mean Less Earnings Management?

We examine the effect board gender diversity has on earnings management in European countries. The findings reveal that a gender diverse board mitigates earnings management in countries where gender equality is high. This provides an explanation to the inconclusive findings in the literature. Finance Research Letters Journal Impact Factor on ResearchGate - Impact Factor Rankings (2013, 2014 and 2015). Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/journal/1544-6123_Finance_Research_Letters [accessed Aug 24, 2015]