Optimal Asset Allocation for CRRA and CARA Insurers under the Vasicek Interest Rate Model

This paper considers the reinsurance-investment problem with interest rate risks under constant relative risk aversion and constant absolute risk aversion preferences, respectively. Stochastic control theory and dynamic programming principle are applied to investigate the optimal proportional reinsurance-investment strategy for an insurer under the Vasicek stochastic interest rate model. Solving the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation via the Legendre transform approach, the optimal premium allocation strategies maximizing the expected utilities of terminal wealth are derived. In addition, several sensitivity analyses and numerical illustrations are given to analyze the impacts of different risk preferences and interest rate fluctuation on the optimal strategies. We find that the asset allocation and reinsurance ratio of the insurer are correlated with risk preference coefficient and interest rate fluctuation, and the insurance company may adjust the reinsurance-investment strategy to deal with interest rate risk.

Risk Management and Financial Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

The current study investigated risk management and financial performance of manufacturing firms. Specifically, the study analyzed liquidity risk and market risk effect on after tax profit of manufacturing establishment in Nigeria. The study employed panel data over the period spanning from 2010-2019 across 10 firms. Secondary data were gathered through the annual reports of the selected firms. Correlation analysis and panel-based estimation techniques were used. The outcome showed that liquidity risk positively and significantly affect profit after tax while market risk (measured by interest rate risk) negatively and insignificantly affect profit after tax of sampled firms quoted in Nigeria. This study concluded that efficient and effective risk management will positively affect performance of quoted firms in Nigeria, most specially management of internal risk such as the liquidity risk. Hence, firms should build an internal control system flexible in nature to harness the benefit of internal risk management and also normalize the negative effect of external risk such as the interest rate on performance.

Extrapolating Long-Maturity Bond Yields for Financial Risk Measurement

Insurance companies and pension funds have liabilities far into the future and typically well beyond the longest maturity bonds trading in fixed-income markets. Such long-lived liabilities still need to be discounted, and yield curve extrapolations based on the information in observed yields can be used. We use dynamic Nelson-Siegel (DNS) yield curve models to extrapolate risk-free yield curves for Switzerland and several countries. We find slight biases in extrapolated long bond yields of just a few basis points. In addition, the DNS model allows the generation of useful financial risk metrics, such as ranges of possible yield outcomes over projection horizons commonly used for stress-testing purposes. Therefore, we recommend using DNS models as a simple tool for generating extrapolated yields for long-term interest rate risk management. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance.

Impact of Interest Rate Risk on Supply Chain Network under Bank Credit and Trade Credit Financing

The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology that reflects the impact of interest rate risk on firms in supply chain network under bank financing and trade credit and further describe how trade credit improves the impact of interest rate risk on supply chain network through a financial flow equilibrium. A mean-variance framework and a network equilibrium analysis are integrated to provide a modeling framework. The model allows for the investigation of how bank credit financing (BCF) and trade credit financing (TCF) affect the payment strategy and financial flow of interconnected firms in supply chain networks and how they are affected by interest rate risks. The optimal behavior of manufacturers and retailers is described through variational inequality. We construct a supply chain network equilibrium model and derive qualitative properties of the solution and the function that becomes assimilated to the variational inequality problem. Additionally, variational inequality is solved using the modified projection method. This study extends the research on the impact of interest rate risk on the decision in supply chain network of firms. While other studies focus on the game between banks and firms, only a few authors have made attempts to examine the game between one manufacturer and one retailer in supply chain. An effective trade credit strategy is obtained by balancing cash and credit transactions. Through the case study, we learn how to balance the capital flow effectively to improve the negative impact of interest rate risk on supply chain.

Managing the Risks of Negative Interest Rates

The acceleration in the issuance of government debt since the global financial crisis has led central bankers to engineer interest rates that are historically low in nominal terms and consistently lower than inflation rates. Although the ostensible aim of this policy is to stimulate economic growth, maintaining negative real rates also goes a long way so that government debt is manageable and will decline in the long run, relative to the size of the economy. Financial institutions hold the great majority of government debt, and their books of retail and corporate loans are expanding briskly at a time when ultra-low interest rates make borrowing especially attractive. Rates paid on deposits are low, in advanced economies, even negative in the euro zone in nominal terms. That helps to offset the reduction in income that banks earn on their lending. Even so, the extreme and unique conditions resulting from persistent negative real interest rates mean that banks must take particular care to manage their interest-rate risk in the context of other risk types and the banks’ profit-and-loss analysis.

Critical Role of Risk Management and its Impact on Bank Performance in Pakistan

Risk management is most important factor to exist and survive for the financial industry. The major bankruptcies which incurred of ERON and Lehman-Brothers this arises the awareness about the appropriate risk management procedure in banking sectors. Our study analyze the various risk which can affect on banking operation in Pakistan and this study also include the effect of risk management on the performance of the large banking sector as well as small banking sectors in Pakistan. This study uses capital adequacy ratio, non performing loans, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and operational risk for the risk management. The data is taken from the published annual report of the commercial banks from 2005 to 2015. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix and regression analysis use to analyze the data. This study leads to conclusion is that the better risk management system leads to the better performance of the banks. It’s also conclude that capital adequacy ratio, non performing loans, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and operational risk that are key drivers of the profitability for the large banking sector of Pakistan. It’s also tell us that only capital adequacy ratio and non performing loans are the key drivers of small banking sectors in Pakistan.

The effect of investment risks on stock return in the agricultural sector

This study purposes to determine the impact of risks of investment on stock returns of the agricultural sector in wetlands listed on the IDX for the period 2016-2019. This study uses secondary data while the analysis tool uses multiple linear regression (SPSS 21). The research population is 21 companies and the sample is 17 companies. The research sampling technique uses purposive sampling. The object of research is the agricultural sector which is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2016 to 2019. This study also uses some classical assumptions. Testing the research hypothesis was done by t-test (partial test) and the coefficient of determination test. The results of the study are that 2 independent variables have a significant effect, namely interest rate risk (X1) in a positive direction and exchange risk in a negative direction, while liquidity risk and inflation risk have no significant effect with negative and positive directions on stock returns of the agricultural sector listed on the IDX for the period 2016-2019. The result of the research determination coefficient is 15.1%.

Analysis of Floating Rate Bonds and the Firm Characteristics

We examine the security and firm characteristics of a sample of 2,027 non-convertible investment grade floating rate securities (bonds) issued by the US based firms between 1980 and 2018. These bonds pay a coupon based on short term reference rate, such as fed funds rate, plus a fixed quoted margin. Considerable number (81.6%) of these issues are between 1992 and 2007 signifying floating rate as an effective mechanism to mitigate firm’s interest rate risk when the rates are high and expected to fall. A positive and significant abnormal return (CAR = 0.27%), in the event window surrounding issue date, provides strong evidence that the floating rate is viewed as a less restrictive provision as compared to the call option. Majority of the issues (89.3%) are non-callable since the floating rate mitigates interest rate risk for the issuing firm. Lack of put provision in these bonds (in only 7.35% of the sample issues) signifies no significant investor concerns of falling bond prices. Regression analysis reveals that firms with growth options and with higher leverage experience positive CAR due to the financial flexibility these bonds provide. Firms with higher level of information asymmetry benefits less from issuing these securities since most of these bonds (90.13%) are issued at par therefore, the price is not likely to carry information content that mitigates information asymmetry between the firms and the investors.