Financial Performance: Cases From Hong Kong-Listed Company

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to preliminarily explore the financial performance of Hong Kong listed companies in recent years, so that the public can have a preliminary understanding of the operating conditions of Hong Kong companies in recent years.   Theoretical Framework: Financial performance is whether a business strategy and its implementation and execution are contributing to the ultimate business performance. Financial performance can fully express the effect of cost control, the effect of asset utilization and management, the effect of capital allocation, and the composition of the return on shareholders' equity. Financial performance is mainly reflected in four aspects: profitability, operating ability, solvency and growth ability.   Design/Methodology/Approach: We randomly obtained the annual financial reports of 17 listed companies from 2016 to 2021 from the official website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. And based on the financial data disclosed in the financial reports of each company, it makes a detailed calculation, analysis and comparison of the profitability, solvency, operating capability and growth capability of each company.   Findings: In recent years, the profitability and operational capabilities of listed companies in Hong Kong have been stable without major fluctuations, but there is still a slight downward trend. The solvency performance is good, and the source of capital flow is relatively reliable. At the same time, the financial performance of listed companies in Hong Kong has also been significantly negatively affected by the spread of the covid-19 pandemic.   Research, Practical & Social Implications: We suggest that in the future, listed companies in Hong Kong should improve their business strategies in a targeted manner to resist the impact of the new crown pandemic and the outside world on business operations.   Originality/Value: The profitability and operating capacity of Hong Kong-listed companies remained stable without much fluctuation, but there was still a slight downward trend. The financial performance of Hong Kong-listed companies has also been significantly negatively affected by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic

Starch-Pectin Matrices for Encapsulation of Ascorbic Acid

Starch and pectin are two food-grade carbohydrates widely utilized in the food industry. Starch and pectin polymers have been investigated in encapsulating functional food ingredients and in pharmaceutical applications. Resistance to enzyme hydrolysis, differential solubilities, depending on the pH, and the ability to ‘protect’ unstable molecules are considered some of the beneficial properties of starch and pectin polymers, for encapsulation applications. Food ingredients could be delivered in a controlled manner to a specific target by encapsulating in micro-scale particles, i. e., microencapsulation. Two studies were conducted to investigate the ability of selected starch-pectin blends in microencapsulating ascorbic acid (vitamin C) by spray-drying. The first study investigated the properties of heat-treated resistant starch and pectin based microparticles; blends of 50% amylose and 70% amylose, and type 4 resistant (RS 4) starches, were used with high methoxyl pectin at selected ratios. The second study investigated the properties of gelatinized regular starch and pectin based microparticles that were prepared by spray drying with a three-fluid nozzle, in encapsulating ascorbic acid. The type of starch, as well as starch-pectin ratio influenced both physical and functional properties of the microparticles. Advisor: Wajira S. Ratnayak