Share Price Analysis for Selected Companies based on Human Resource Practices

This paper investigates the links between human resources, finance and investments. These departments should work towards the same goal of producing profitability for the organisation and a high level performance. Without this, the organisation does not benefit from the skills in both teams. To highlight the link, finance and investment related measures linked to the price of 12 top ranking and 12 bottom ranking companies from the 2017 Workforce 100 list are evaluated to determine if differences exist in their share price performance. The selected companies are evaluated against selected benchmarks, NASDAQ Composite index as well as the NYSE Composite Index, to analyse their financial performance on a very high level. The analysis includes visual display of the logged share prices of the selected companies included in the study followed by year percentage change comparison and P/E ratio comparison to determine any fundamental differences. The top 12 ranking listed companies showed a higher year percentage change in 2017 based on share prices as well as a higher P/E ratio

Co-Movement and Volatility Analysis of Sugar: Spot and Future

Co-movement and volatility analysis between variables are an important considerations in investment related decisions. The relationships of spot and two future priced sugar contracts are examined against the currency and main index of Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. Sugar which is produced in many countries around the world is the world's largest crop by production in metric tons. Co-movement and volatility analysis includes correlation, vector autoregression, Johansen cointegration test, impulse responses, pairwise Granger causality test and three GARCH models. The three GARCH models are the GARCH, GJR-GARCH and EGARCH models. A long run relationships exists between the three sugar variables, the three sugar variables and the Shanghai SE A Share Index; as well as between the tree sugar variables and the Thai Bhat. Co-movement results indicate that unidirectional and bidirectional relationships exist among the variables. A bi-directional relationship exists between sugar spot and CSCE sugar 11 future as well as between sugar spot and Liffe sugar future. Sugar spot and sugar future have a uni-directional relationship with the indices of Bangkok, Indonesia, Philippines, China, and India. Sugar spot and sugar futures Granger causes the currencies of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and India. The volatility analysis done shows that the AIC and SIC results of the GARCH models which indicates that the original GARCH model fits the data the best for sugar spot and the CSCE sugar 11 future. The EGARCH model fits the data the best for Liffe sugar future

Digital Transformation of World Finance

The boundary between the physical and a virtual world is not clearly visible nowadays, the 4.0 industry utilizes artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technology, quantum computing, advanced visualization and other advanced technologies. The surge of capital flows in financial technology is visible wherever we look. Classical businesses face a challenge to connect and create partners with the companies that are technology savvy because this may impact their future success. The strategy for digital business must be thought over very thoroughly since it represents the success threshold in contemporary digital environment. The classic banking system faces the threat or opportunity of an open banking system and banks are forced to be prepared to offer next generation services benefiting from third party channels. The short history on the banking industry including digital banking along, with fintech as a financial institution showing its power to compete sophistically, will shift the studied digital transformation phenomenon into a dilemma whether we indeed face a cashless society challenge, whether the governments should start to accelerate their decisions on Central Bank Digitalized Currency – CBDC or how far several countries already are to become a cashless society. At last, potential security, trust and fraud issues will close this chapter

Periprosthetic fungal infections : be alert clinical cases and review of the literature

The increasing rate of arthroplasty, revisions and resistance to antibiotics has increased the risk for fungal infections. Different treatment modalities exist: suppressive therapy, debridement with retained prosthesis, Girdlestone procedures and 2- or even 3-stage revision arthroplasty. Fungal infections after joint replacements are rare but devastating. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY : The aim was to see if there was any trend that could help with the diagnosis and management of patients with fungal infections. The literature was reviewed in order to assist with diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A retrospective study was performed and all the cases seen and treated by a tumour and sepsis orthopaedic specialist from 1999 to 2015 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria: Patients had to be diagnosed with a fungal infection in any specimen which was sent for histology or culture. Exclusions: none. RESULTS : Four patients were identified. All of them were males. Mean age 58 (35–71) years. The primary surgical indications were: vertebral osteomyelitis; post primary knee replacement; pig bite with lower limb sepsis and osteoarthritis knee, and a septic total hip replacement. Three cases cultured Candida parapsilosis and one Candida albicans of which three were tissue cultures and one a blood culture. Currently 75% have failed treatment – one passed away, one developed systemic sepsis, and one had an above-knee amputation and is still struggling with subsequent bacterial infections in the amputation stump. CONCLUSION : As long as there are higher incidences of fungal infections with devastating complications more evidence is needed. Numerous small case studies have been published, with the purpose of looking for the correct treatment: monotherapy, combination therapy, newer antifungals, higher dosages, implant retention or removal. It appears that the correct answer is unclear as yet. It is important to always have a high index of suspicion and good pre-operative planning together with a team approach: infectious diseases specialist, microbiologist and histologist. This approach will optimise the probability of making a diagnosis and to appropriately manage the fungus cultured.http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=1681-150X&lng=pt&nrm=isoam2017Orthopaedic Surger

Hepatitis C virus and the risk to the healthcare worker

The risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is six times higher per needle-stick exposure than is the risk of HIV infection (1.8% vs 0.3%). The prevalence of HCV in South Africa is not known but estimated to be between 0.1 and 0.7%. Genotype 5 is predominantly found in South Africa. Currently there is no protocol in place for HCV exposure. The treatment cost of HCV is expensive. Currently none of the insurance companies covers post-HCV exposure.http://www.saoa.org.zaam201

Supporting social learning and knowledge management withing the ecological infrastructure for water security project

In this section, we outline processes relating to stakeholder engage-ment relevant to the SLKMM strategy, which include stakeholder analy-sis, a stakeholder tracking tool and a stakeholder database. These pro-cesses and products required on-going refinement during implementa-tion of the SLKMM strategy. The implications of the stakeholder analy-sis work in developing the SLKMM strategy are articulated further in CHAPTER 3: STRATEGY-AS-PRACTICE FOR SOCIAL LEARNING, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND MEDIATION (SLKMM

Optimal cross hedging relationships of internationally priced commodities in the South African context

Ph.D. (Finance)Abstract: Commodities, which are a type of alternative investment, do not follow the normal characteristics of traditional investments. Because commodities do not act the same as traditional investments, the use of commodities for diversification purposes arises. Commodities can be used in normal investment decisions, which allows financial participants to improve the selection of assets included in an investment portfolio and ensure that returns are protected to some extent. Commodities have shown continuously changing co-movement over the last twenty-five years. This development has made investment decisions related to commodities more difficult and therefore resulted in more risk being present within the alternative investment class. Commodities have also shown a shift in fundamental behaviour over time, which results in findings that are not necessarily applicable to current market conditions. A second development that has occurred over the last ten to fifteen years is the financialisation of commodities as financial participants demand more investment opportunities. Without an understanding of the interaction of commodities with other financial variables or between other commodities, commodities as investment assets are limited and underutilised. The financialisation of commodities has emphasised the market efficiency related to commodities. The market efficiency has increased over the last decade as the speed of market reactions as well as the quantity of information to the market increased. These two concepts have made investing within traditional investments more difficult. With fewer traditional investment opportunities, investors have started searching for opportunities in other parts of the financial market, which has allowed alternative investments to develop as quickly as they have. Commodities have allowed for another avenue for diversification as well as hedging opportunities..

Innovation and E-Commerce Models, the Technology Catalysts for Sustainable Development: The Emirate of Dubai Case Study

Innovation and e-commerce models are essential in sustainable development globally. They are among the most important technology and innovation catalysts of Dubai’s pillars. Technologies are essential parts of the strategic approach that aims to become a completely paperless city through digitalisation. The analyses begin with reviewing the most relevant literature on sustainable e-commerce and the e-commerce models. Furthermore, the research identifies the innovation and sustainable paradigms most suitable for developing technologies and e-commerce successfully. Finally, the focus is shifted to the best and most innovative and sustainable e-commerce practices adopted by the companies, contextualised in the Emirate of Dubai as a relevant case study. The primary outcome of this research demonstrated how a thriving environment, marked by adequate investments and opportunities provided by the government, supported e-commerce development and technology adoption. Subsequently, those models are matched with sustainable strategies. The analysis is carried out through an organic growth research framework. The results, therefore, provide valuable insights to multiple stakeholders. Indeed, despite some limitations, the Emirates of Dubai can be considered a benchmark in terms of a strategic digitalisation approach, as its ecosystem proves particularly fruitful for e-commerce development and company sales growth

Periprosthetic fungal infections: Be alert ( Clinical cases and review of the literature)

The increasing rate of arthroplasty, revisions and resistance to antibiotics has increased the risk for fungal infections. Different treatment modalities exist: suppressive therapy, debridement with retained prosthesis, Girdlestone procedures and 2- or even 3-stage revision arthroplasty. Fungal infections after joint replacements are rare but devastating. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY : The aim was to see if there was any trend that could help with the diagnosis and management of patients with fungal infections. The literature was reviewed in order to assist with diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A retrospective study was performed and all the cases seen and treated by a tumour and sepsis orthopaedic specialist from 1999 to 2015 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria: Patients had to be diagnosed with a fungal infection in any specimen which was sent for histology or culture. Exclusions: none. RESULTS : Four patients were identified. All of them were males. Mean age 58 (35–71) years. The primary surgical indications were: vertebral osteomyelitis; post primary knee replacement; pig bite with lower limb sepsis and osteoarthritis knee, and a septic total hip replacement. Three cases cultured Candida parapsilosis and one Candida albicans of which three were tissue cultures and one a blood culture. Currently 75% have failed treatment – one passed away, one developed systemic sepsis, and one had an above-knee amputation and is still struggling with subsequent bacterial infections in the amputation stump. CONCLUSION : As long as there are higher incidences of fungal infections with devastating complications more evidence is needed. Numerous small case studies have been published, with the purpose of looking for the correct treatment: monotherapy, combination therapy, newer antifungals, higher dosages, implant retention or removal. It appears that the correct answer is unclear as yet. It is important to always have a high index of suspicion and good pre-operative planning together with a team approach: infectious diseases specialist, microbiologist and histologist. This approach will optimise the probability of making a diagnosis and to appropriately manage the fungus cultured.http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=1681-150X&lng=pt&nrm=isoam2017Orthopaedic Surger

A Bayesian reanalysis of the Standard versus Accelerated Initiation of Renal-Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) trial

Background Timing of initiation of kidney-replacement therapy (KRT) in critically ill patients remains controversial. The Standard versus Accelerated Initiation of Renal-Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) trial compared two strategies of KRT initiation (accelerated versus standard) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury and found neutral results for 90-day all-cause mortality. Probabilistic exploration of the trial endpoints may enable greater understanding of the trial findings. We aimed to perform a reanalysis using a Bayesian framework. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of all 2927 patients randomized in multi-national STARRT-AKI trial, performed at 168 centers in 15 countries. The primary endpoint, 90-day all-cause mortality, was evaluated using hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression. A spectrum of priors includes optimistic, neutral, and pessimistic priors, along with priors informed from earlier clinical trials. Secondary endpoints (KRT-free days and hospital-free days) were assessed using zero–one inflated beta regression. Results The posterior probability of benefit comparing an accelerated versus a standard KRT initiation strategy for the primary endpoint suggested no important difference, regardless of the prior used (absolute difference of 0.13% [95% credible interval [CrI] − 3.30%; 3.40%], − 0.39% [95% CrI − 3.46%; 3.00%], and 0.64% [95% CrI − 2.53%; 3.88%] for neutral, optimistic, and pessimistic priors, respectively). There was a very low probability that the effect size was equal or larger than a consensus-defined minimal clinically important difference. Patients allocated to the accelerated strategy had a lower number of KRT-free days (median absolute difference of − 3.55 days [95% CrI − 6.38; − 0.48]), with a probability that the accelerated strategy was associated with more KRT-free days of 0.008. Hospital-free days were similar between strategies, with the accelerated strategy having a median absolute difference of 0.48 more hospital-free days (95% CrI − 1.87; 2.72) compared with the standard strategy and the probability that the accelerated strategy had more hospital-free days was 0.66. Conclusions In a Bayesian reanalysis of the STARRT-AKI trial, we found very low probability that an accelerated strategy has clinically important benefits compared with the standard strategy. Patients receiving the accelerated strategy probably have fewer days alive and KRT-free. These findings do not support the adoption of an accelerated strategy of KRT initiation