Preference for different relaxation techniques by COPD patients: comparison between six techniques.

BACKGROUND: A review of the effectiveness of relaxation techniques for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients has shown inconsistent results, but studies have varied in terms of technique and outcome measures. AIM: To determine patient preference for different relaxation techniques. METHODS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were presented with six techniques via a DVD and asked to rate the techniques in terms of effectiveness, rank in order of likely use, and comment. RESULTS: Patients differed in the technique preferred and reason for that preference, but the most commonly preferred technique both for effectiveness and ease of use was "thinking of a nice place" followed by progressive relaxation and counting. Familiarity and ease of activity were commonly given reasons for preference. CONCLUSION: Rather than providing patients with a single technique that they might find difficult to implement, these results suggest that it would be better to give a choice. "Thinking of a nice place" is a popular but under-investigated technique

An examination of the performance of the trades and stock holdings of fund managers: Further evidence

C1 - Refereed Journal Articl

Profits versus Losses: Does Reporting an Accounting Loss Act as a Heuristic Trigger to Exercise the Abandonment Option and Divest Employees?

C1 - Refereed Journal ArticleThe binary classification of firms into profits or losses represents a powerful heuristic. The literature that has examined the impact on the firm of this earnings heuristic has focused on the earnings management actions of small profit firms. The impact of this earnings heuristic on the actions of firms reporting accounting losses and the decision-making effects the heuristic may have other than earnings management have not been examined. In this study we hypothesize that reporting an accounting loss acts as a heuristic trigger for firms to exercise the abandonment option and discard unproductive investments. The results are consistent with the hypothesis. We find that there is a sharp and economically significant discontinuity around zero in the level of investment in labor between small profit and small loss firms. The discontinuity is due to loss firms having a lower-than-expected level of investment in labor, given their economic fundamentals. Further tests show that this discontinuity is due to the exercise of the abandonment option. We find that firms switching from a profit to a loss cut labor to a greater extent than other firms with similar changes in earnings that do not pass the loss threshold. Taken together the results are consistent with the accounting loss heuristic acting as a major disciplinary or incentive altering event that resolves agency problems

Top management turnover: An examination of portfolio holdings and fund performance

We examine the performance and portfolio characteristics of actively managed equity funds impacted by top management turnover. Utilizing a unique database of monthly portfolio holdings, our study finds that, post-replacement, previously poor performing funds experience improved returns. However, this improved performance is not attributable to superior stock selection skill. We also find these new managers decrease the fund's reliance on momentum strategies and decrease the portfolio's concentration, which then leads to a reduced tracking-error volatility. Prior to the replacement event, underperforming investment managers exhibit preferences for larger, growth-oriented stocks, as well as riding momentum strategies and increasing portfolio turnover

Keeping it private: financial reporting by large proprietary companies in Australia

© 2019 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand Since 2010, proprietary companies have had a choice of preparing three types of financial reports that vary in scope. We find that between 2010 and 2015, most proprietary companies in our random sample chose the lowest scope option, with very low quality financial reports. Few adopted the new option provided by AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards. The characteristics of the firms that adopted each type of report are consistent with the regulator's intention. Our findings should provide a better understanding of how accounting standards impact practice, and should assist regulators to reform private company financial reporting

The association between quarter length, forecast errors, and firms’ voluntary disclosures

Approximately 60 percent of adjacent fiscal quarters contain a different number of calendar days. In preliminary analyses, we find the change in quarter length is significantly associated with the changes in sales and earnings and that analysts condition on the prior quarter's results when making their forecasts. These results indicate that it is important for analysts to adjust for changes in quarter length when making forecasts. However, we find the quarterly change in days is positively associated with analysts’ sales and earnings forecasts errors, where forecast error equals the actual earnings minus the forecasted earnings. These results indicate that analysts systematically underestimate (overestimate) performance when quarter length increases (decreases). We find evidence indicating investors make similar errors as returns around earnings announcements are positively associated with the change in quarter length, but only when changes in firm performance is more sensitive to changes in quarter length. Corroborating these findings, managers are more (less) likely to discuss quarter length during conference calls when quarter length decreases (increases). These results are consistent with managers’ strategic disclosure incentives. In summary, our evidence suggests analysts and investors fail to fully take account of the quasi-mechanical effect that quarter length has on firm performance and managers strategically alter their voluntary disclosures to take advantage of these failures

The valuation relevance of Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the European Union Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme

Abstract: This study examines the valuation relevance of greenhouse gas emissions under the European Union Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme. We posit that carbon emissions affect firm valuation only to the extent that a firm's emissions exceed its carbon allowances under a cap-and-trade system and the extent of its inability to pass on carbon-related compliance costs to consumers and end-users. We measure a firm's ability to pass on the future costs by its market power and its carbon performance relative to its industry peers. The results show that firms' carbon allowances are not associated with firm valuation but the allocation shortfalls are negatively associated. We also find that the negative association between firm values and carbon emission shortfalls is mitigated for firms with better carbon performance relative to their industry peers and for firms in less competitive industry sectors. These findings, which suggest that the valuation impact of carbon emissions is unlikely to be homogenous across firms or industrial sectors, have important implications for future research design and for the disclosure and recognition of a firm's greenhouse gas liabilities