The Euro


Book Description

In this book leading financial professionals and academics examine the prospects for the European single currency. The impact of the Euro is assessed in terms of risks and opportunities for financial intermediaries, challenges for monetary and supervisory authorities and issues for portfolio management and corporate finance.




EMU, Financial Markets and the World Economy


Book Description

This book is based on the conference "EMU and the Outside World", held at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), December 11, 1998. The conference was organized by the Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research (KOF), which is supported jointly by the ETH and the Swiss Society for Business Cycle Research (SGK), an organization comprising representatives from private industry, the Swiss National Bank and public authorities. On the eve of the final stage of European Economic and Mone tary Union (EMU), Zurich seemed to be a particularly appropriate place for such a conference. On the one hand, given its location and economic and financial links with the euro area, Switzerland is one of the "outside coun tries" most affected by EMU. On the other hand, it was nowhere else than in Zurich where the vision of "a United States of Europe" was expressed for the first time by Winston Churchill in his speech on September 19, 1946. For many EMU is a step in that direction, whether welcome or not. Most of the papers appearing in this volume were presented at the con ference and have been revised and updated. Three contributions, chapter 11- 13, were commissioned specially for this publication. Besides the authors of the chapters, special thanks are due to Guido Boller, Robert McCauley, Umberto Schwarz, and Charles Wyplosz.




Financial Crisis Management and Democracy


Book Description

This open access book discusses financial crisis management and policy in Europe and Latin America, with a special focus on equity and democracy. Based on a three-year research project by the Jean Monnet Network, this volume takes an interdisciplinary, comparative approach, analyzing both the role and impact of the EU and regional organizations in Latin America on crisis management as well as the consequences of crisis on the process of European integration and on Latin America’s regionalism. The book begins with a theoretical introduction, exploring the effects of the paradigm change on economic policies in Europe and in Latin America and analyzing key systemic aspects of the unsustainability of the present economic system explaining the global crises and their interconnections. The following chapters are divided into sections. The second section explores aspects of regional governance and how the economic and financial crises were managed on a macro level in Europe and Latin America. The third and fourth sections use case studies to drill down to the impact of the crises at the national and regional levels, including the emergence of political polarization and rise in populism in both areas. The last section presents proposals for reform, including the transition from finance capitalism to a sustainable real capitalism in both regions and at the inter-regional level of EU-LAC relations.The volume concludes with an epilogue on financial crises, regionalism, and domestic adjustment by Loukas Tsoukalis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Written by an international network of academics, practitioners and policy advisors, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students interested in macroeconomics, comparative regionalism, democracy, and financial crisis management as well as politicians, policy advisors, and members of national and regional organizations in the EU and Latin America.




EMU and the International Monetary System


Book Description

This book, edited by Paul R. Masson, Thomas Krueger, and Bart G. Turtelboom, contains the proceedings of the seminar held in Washington, D.C. on March 17-18, 1997, cosponsored by the IMF and Fondation Camille Gutt. Conference participants discussed implications of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on exchange and financial markets, and consequently on the activities of market participants and private and official institutions. The five main themes of the seminar were the characteristics of the euro and its potential role as an international currency; EMU and international policy coordination; EMU and the relationship between the IMF and its EMU members; lessons of European monetary integration for the international monetary system; and the transitioin to EMU.




Betting for and Against EMU


Book Description

This title was first published in 2000: An analysis of the extent to which the outcomes of the process of European monetary integration and, particularly, of the development of the debate over the establishment of EMU, have been influenced by domestic politics and by domestic economic interest groups in Italy and in the United Kingdom. From an empirical point of view, the work provides an account of the development of Italian and British socio-economic interest groups towards the issue of European monetary union from the making of the EMS until the establishment of EMU.




Understanding Investments


Book Description

The author's main goal in writing Understanding Investments is to present the classic theories and strategies in the field of finance in a new, intuitive, and practical way. This text offers context and grounding information to students truly looking, as the title indicates, to understand investments. This textbook brings a number of innovative features to the field: 1. Presentation of material from the economics point of view, stressing the interpretation of concepts, rather than their mere memorization and mechanical application. 2. Shorter, more streamlined chapters, so instructors and students won't be distracted by superfluous detail, and can instead focus on the most relevant issues. 3. Fewer chapters than in current textbooks, so instructors can comfortably cover all material within a semester. 4. Boxes with ‘International Focus’ vignettes, discussions ‘Applying Economic Analysis’ to relevant topics, and featured ‘Lessons from our Times’, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of the material and its relevant context and applications. 5. Sections in each chapter discussing different investment strategies and their pros and cons. 6. Questions that solicit students' critical thinking skills and problems that require their quantitative expertise to address real-life problems - rather than rote, mechanical questions that merely require regurgitation.




After the Euro


Book Description

Now that the process of full implementation of European Monetary Union has begun, it is time to shift attention away from the process of introduction to the implications that the common currency will have for a wide range of institutions and policy areas. The wider political and social institutions of the European Union are not well developed there is an institutional deficit which parallels the more widely know democratic deficit. Monetary arrangements of nation states are imbedded in a range of political, cultural, economic and historical factors. Will mechanisms of these kinds eventually develop at the European level? Can national structures adapt to meet the challenge? The contributors to After the Euro tackle these questions and in doing so, take the debate beyond the economic and sovereignty questions which have so far dominated the debate.




Indices as Benchmarks in the Portfolio Management


Book Description

​Based on a very extensive literature review the book delineates the previous scientific and practical applications of indices as benchmarks for single asset classes as stocks, commodities, German governmental bonds and cash as well as especially for multi asset portfolios. According to the specific influencing factors of the Eurozone a recommendation of allocating equity portfolios with respect to industrial or regional factors is given by an empirical analysis. As most common and significant benchmark index for the Eurozone, the Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50 is analysed according to index effects. This serves as comparison and consideration of the active anticipations of index membership exchanges and a simple index investment during short- and long-term periods. Furthermore a correlation weighted equity index, established by different TMI industry indices of the Eurozone is calculated, which serves as benefit for diversification opportunities of two multidimensionally diversified and systamatically allocated multi asset portfolios. These portfolios are composed with reference towards the Portfolio Selection Theory by Harry M. Markowitz to test its practical relevance and validity during the challenging years from 2001 and 2010.




Globalization, Hegemony and the Future of the City of London


Book Description

This book gives a detailed account of the primacy of the City of London, both as a domestic actor and as a global financial centre. It focuses on whether the hegemonic position of the City of London can be threatened by the globalization process and how this relates to its role as an international money laundering centre.




Advanced Bond Portfolio Management


Book Description

In order to effectively employ portfolio strategies that can control interest rate risk and/or enhance returns, you must understand the forces that drive bond markets, as well as the valuation and risk management practices of these complex securities. In Advanced Bond Portfolio Management, Frank Fabozzi, Lionel Martellini, and Philippe Priaulet have brought together more than thirty experienced bond market professionals to help you do just that. Divided into six comprehensive parts, Advanced Bond Portfolio Management will guide you through the state-of-the-art techniques used in the analysis of bonds and bond portfolio management. Topics covered include: General background information on fixed-income markets and bond portfolio strategies The design of a strategy benchmark Various aspects of fixed-income modeling that will provide key ingredients in the implementation of an efficient portfolio and risk management process Interest rate risk and credit risk management Risk factors involved in the management of an international bond portfolio Filled with in-depth insight and expert advice, Advanced Bond Portfolio Management is a valuable resource for anyone involved or interested in this important industry.