Nexus between Economy, Agriculture, Population, Renewable Energy and CO2 Emissions: Evidence from Asia-Pacific Countries

This study uses panel co-integration methods and Granger causality examines to scrutinize the dynamic causal relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, gross domestic product (GDP), renewable energy (RE), agriculture value added (AVA) and population for the thirteen developed and developing Asia Pacific countries (APCs) covering the period 2005-2017. The results evaluate in two ways: in the short-run, Granger causality test (GCT) is operating from AVA to GDP and express bidirectional causation among GDP and agriculture. In the distant future, there is causality from RE and Population to CO2emissions. The short-run causality is important due to the agriculture sector which causes in boosting GDP while economic development, population and clean energy (including waste and combustible) raise CO2 emissions causes in the reduction of production and services. The research finds out that reduction in AVA, GDP increase, uncontrolled population and lack of attention on clean energy are interrelated in creating emissions. Policy recommendation insights that Asian Pacific establishments should control the population, less use of fossil fuel, encourage clean energy technologies such as solar and wind to fight with global warming

Antecedents of Financial Performance of Banking Sector: Panel Analysis of Islamic, Conventional and Mix Banks in Pakistan

Objective: This paper analyzes bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic determinants of bank profitability on the sample of 25 banks, 161 observations on the Pakistani banking system in the period between 2006 and 2012. Our dependent variables include Return on Equity, Return on Assets and Earning per Share and independent variables consist of 'bank-specific determinants', industry-specific determinants', and 'macroeconomic determinants'. State Bank of Pakistan provides the data for internal factors on a yearly basis. Methodology: Different statistical techniques are used step by step to empirically test the relationship between the variables and to draw conclusions from the results of the study. Firstly, to analyze the features of the profitability determinants descriptive statistics are used. Secondly, we examine the causal relationship between bank-specific, industry specific, macroeconomic variables and profitability variables, Pearson's coefficient of correlation is used.  Panel data are used in this study so the technique used for regression is a panel regression technique which includes the pooled Ordinary Least Square, Random Effects Model and Fixed Effect Model. Hausman test is used to analyze that which technique for panel regression is more suitable for study. Results: According to the obtained results, among internal factors of bank profitability, firm size are the most important factor. Profitability is influenced by liquidity, asset quality and leverage condition of the banks. Regarding the external variables, inflation and interest rate show significant effect on bank profitability. Islamic banks show significant positive relationship with commercial banks

Vacillating Behavior of TOM Effect and Adaptive Market Hypothesis: A Firm Level Evidence from Emerging Stock Market of Pakistan

Through the current study we amplify the available literature on AMH (Adaptive Market Hypothesis) and calendar anomalies because this is the first study of its nature which links TOM effect with AMH which allows the behavior of conventional TOM-effect to swing over time. To fulfill the drive, study investigates daily mean return from PSX of Pakistan using data of 107 firms individually over a longer period of time ranging 1996-2015. To discover the time variation in the levels of predictability of TOM returns, study uses four different sub-samples covering identical length of observations of five years each to investigate how TOM effect has performed over time. There are few studies in the literature investigating TOM effect at firm level and very rare studies examining TOM effect through (AMH), so the current study may be of importance and interest to finance researcher, academicians and practitioners alike. To elucidate the volatility and its varying nature, the study applies GARCH (1,1) regression model which enables for time-variation in volatility of security returns. Kruskal-Wallis test-statistic is used to handle non normality in the equity return series. We find that with the passage of time performance of TOM effect evolves, consistent and aligned with the assertion of AMH. Finally, this study exhibits that behavior of TOM effect is well elucidated by Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) than conventional Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). The results may be used for better decision making for investors and the article complements studies on market efficiency and TOM effect in developing and developed countries

Sukuk Issuance in Malaysia: Lessons for Pakistan

Pakistan need to enhance the liquidity management framework for its growing Islamic finance industry. Sukuk is a best Shariah-compliant debt instrument for short term liquidity needs since Sukuk is highly tradable instrument with low level of market risk. In view of that, there is an increasing trend in the global issuances of corporate and sovereign Sukuk. Therefore, this case study aims to explore the issuance of Sukuk in Malaysia as an example. Malaysia is dominating the Sukuk Market and has been issuing Sukuk since 1990. The underlying structure of the proposed Sukuk model for Pakistan is Istisna that is an Islamic project bond. Pakistan has the potential to replicate the Sukuk model of Malaysia. However, it is required to have an active secondary trading market in order to develop an effective and dynamic Sukuk market

Why Banks Need Adequate Capital Adequacy Ratio? A Study of Lending & Deposit Behaviors of Banking Sector of Pakistan

This study focuses on the impact of Capital Adequacy Ratio on bank’s lending and deposit behavior and also on the importance of maintaining certain level of capital reserve. CAR is examined using two different ratios leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratio. This study is beneficial for the banking industry in determining enough CAR and to make decision for taking deposits and issuing loans. The sample of the study includes 25 banks of Pakistan; 20 conventional and 5 Islamic banks and the study period is of 10 years. Panel data methodology is used. Data is collected from secondary sources. Findings show that CAR has impact on change in capital and change in loans

Investor Sentiments and Trading Volume’s Asymmetric Response: a Non-linear ARDL Approach Tested in PSX

The research paper entitled “Investor sentiments and trading volume’s asymmetric response: A non linear ARDL approach tested in PSX” is an attempt to investigate the dynamic linkages between trading volume and investor sentiments for Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) 100 index. Two sentiments indicators have been used to enlighten the linkages. These indicators are overconfidence and net optimism and pessimism. Trading volume has been used as a proxy for the measurement of market liquidity. Non-Linear Asymmetric Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) as well as Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) GARCH have been used to explain the dynamic linkages between trading volume and investor sentiments. Empirical findings suggested an asymmetric long-term market liquidity reaction to investor sentiment as well as upcoming three-year correlation have been forecasted between the trading volume and investor sentiments. In the short term, stock market liquidity reacts rapidly and asymmetrically to changes in overconfidence sentiment while the net optimism and pessimism sentiment have insignificant short-term impact on trading volume

Asymmetrical Linkages between Foreign Exchange and Stock Markets: Empirical Evidence through Linear and Non-Linear ARDL

The symmetrical relationship between currency and equity markets has gained much attention among academicians and policy makers in the recent era. Many studies conducted on this relationship have concluded that there is short-run relationship between these variables and found less evidence about a long-run relationship. Moreover, all previous studies supposed the linear or symmetrical relationship between these variables. In this study, we use daily time series data from G8+5 countries and Pakistan for 2000–2016 and apply linear and non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) to check the symmetrical and asymmetrical relationship between currency and equity markets. Results have shown that there are asymmetrical linkages between the currency and equity markets

Antimicrobial activity of Fagoniaindica from Thal Desert, Punjab, Pakistan

Fagoniaindicais a member of Zygophyllaceae family. The plant is used in indigenous medicine to treatvarious ailmentssuch as tumors, abscesses, wounds, scrofulous glands and other swellings of neck. The present study was designed to evaluate antimicrobial activity of this plant. For this purpose, polarity based extraction of the powdered sampleswere carried out with n-hexane, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, butanol, ethanol and methanol. The extracts were tested on fungal pathogens viz., A.niger, F.oxysporum, A.fumigatus, C.albicansand N.sitophillaand bacterial strains i.e., S. aureus, S.epidermidis, E. coli, K.pneumoniae, P.aeruginosa, S.typi, L.bulgaricus and M.luteus. All the extracts isolated from F.indicahave demonstrated pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activity.Maximum activities were shown by acetone and ethyl acetate extracts which exhibited activity against all the tested bacterial strains.Maximum antifungal activity was expressed by ethyl acetate extract which inhibited all fungal pathoges.The present study supports the use of this plant in traditional medicines as an effective drug used to treat various skin diseases

Measurement and Determinants of Financial Performance of Modaraba Companies: A Case Study of Pakistan

Purpose: Profitability measurement is a comparative statistic that describes the relationships between overall profit and other financial determinants of the firm. Design/Methodology/Approach: The focus of this study is to measure the technical (TE), pure technical (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE) scores via Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) of modaraba companies operating in Pakistan. The next stage is to study the empirical relationship between profitability, liquidity, leverage, and macroeconomic performance drivers. Financial statement data for 2010 to 2019 have been analyzed. Findings: Empirical findings of descriptive statistics, correlation and regression were measured. These empirical results reveal that capital ratio (CR) and operating expenses to net income (OENI) had negative correlation with PTE, SE and TE. Whereas the age of the firm had a negative correlation with PTE and TE and positive correlation with SE, moreover, exchange rate (EXC) PKR to USD, log of total assets (LTA) and management expenses (ME) had negative correlation with SE and positive correlation with PTE and TE. Furthermore, inflation (INF) had negative correlation with PTE and positive correlation with SE and TE. Moreover, number of certificates (NOC) had negative correlation with SE and TE and positive correlation with PTE. Implications/Originality/Value: Findings will be helpful to the management and policy makers for enhancing future financial performance by concentrating on these economic factors. More detailed and extensive data from the financial and non-financial aspects is suggested to support the hypothesized relationship of efficiency measures and determinants

Bidirectional Relationship between Stock Market Decline and Liquidity: A Study of Emerged & Emerging Economies

Purpose: This study intends to examine the nature & direction of relationship between stock market movements, particularly market decline, and its liquidity in 14 selected emerged and emerging economies (G8+5 and Pakistan) for January 2001 through December 2017 by applying Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds test and Granger-causality test. Trading value and turnover ratio are employed to measure market liquidity. Methodology: The study is conducted on a sample of 14 economies (G8 + 5 emerging economies, and Pakistan) for January 2001 through December 2017. Daily basis data for all variables is collected from data stream and Economic Indicator website. Market Liquidity is measured by trading value and turnover ratio Findings: Results of trading value Granger-causality test highlight the evidence of no causality in Germany & India. Bi-directional causality exists in Pakistan only. Uni-directional causality subsists only in Russia at 10% significance level from trading value to market return. However, from market return to trading value, results demonstrate the presence of uni-directional causality at 5% significance level for Brazil, Japan. Canada, China, France, Italy, UK, USA, South Africa and Mexico. Negative returns are used to represent the notion of market decline. Implications: Study summarizes the stock market movements of emerging and emerged countries which will be helpful for future researchers and policy makers in their projects