A POSSIBLE RECONCILIATION OF SOME OF THE CONFLICTING FINDINGS ON CLOSED-END FUND DISCOUNTS: A NOTE

The most obvious explanation for the closed-end fund puzzle, the existence of managerial contribution (i.e., managerial performance less managerial fees), has been called into disrepute because of the inability of researchers to consistently document a negative relationship between such benefits and discounts. We present a model which shows that it is possible to account for some of the stylized facts without abandoning market efficiency and rationality. It is suggested that when one takes into consideration the impact of managerial contribution on the probability of open-ending, a negative relationship between managerial contribution and discounts actually may result.     

EXPLAINING PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS ON CLOSED-END EQUALITY COUNTRY FUNDS

Over the past decade or so, the surge of interest among U.S. investors in international investing has led to the creation of numerous foreign equity country funds. Like U.S. closed-end mutual funds, the prices of such closed-end country funds fluctuate widely in relation to their underlying net asset values (NAVs).
In this paper, the authors summarize the major findings of their recent study of the performance of 28 country funds relative to their NAVs over the period 1978–1995. While 20 of the 28 funds traded at average discounts to their net asset values, the discounts for the country funds were smaller than those of the average U.S. fund, and over a quarter of the funds sold at premiums.
In an attempt to explain such premiums or discounts, the authors examined primarily three factors: (1) the sensitivity of country-fund returns (relative to that of local market indices) to U.S. returns; (2) the possible effects of local government investment restrictions; and (3) the impact of exchange rate changes. Although most of the eight funds that traded at average premiums represented countries with significant restrictions on capital flows and foreign ownership, there were also a number of funds with similar restrictions trading at significant discounts. In exploring the reasons for such discounts, the authors noted that the returns to the country funds were "surprisingly sensitive" to U.S. market conditions, thus reducing the extent of their diversification benefits for U.S. investors. The article also raises the possibility that if such country funds are not "priced at the margin" by globally diversified investors, U.S investors' "country-risk sentiments" could cause such funds to trade at discounts.     

INVESTOR TAX-TRADING OPPORTUNITIES AND DISCOUNTS ON CLOSED-END MUTUAL FUNDS

Discounts on closed-end mutual funds are a puzzle to financial economists, because arbitrage activities should eliminate discounts in a perfect capital market. In this paper I develop a model that explains discounts, using Merton's option pricing theorem. By holding shares of a closed-end mutual fund, investors lose valuable tax-trading opportunities associated with the constituent securities of the closed-end mutual fund's portfolio. However, investors can take advantage of all tax-trading opportunities by directly holding the closed-end mutual fund's portfolio. I also show that both variances of individual securities and correlations among securities in the portfolio are important factors in determining the magnitude of discounts.     

AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES

Mutual fund investors are subjected to many fees and expenses related to both the management of the fund assets and the sale and distribution of the fund's shares. In recent years these expenses have increased as a percentage of assets. The preoccupation of mutual fund investors with using performance evaluation as a selection criterion is misguided because of the volatility of investment returns. Whether the fund's performance is due to superior management or just good luck is difficult to determine. On the other hand, mutual fund expenses are stable. As such, the mutual fund investor should pursue a policy of choosing funds with low expenses. In this paper we conduct an empirical analysis of these expenses. The results of our analysis of equity funds suggest that expense-conscious investors should look at the fund size, age, turnover ratio, cash ratio, and existence of a 12b-1 fee as key determinants of expenses. Our analysis of bond funds suggests that the key factors are the fund's sales charge, weighted average maturity, size, and existence of a 12b-1 fee.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE BEHAVIOUR OF UK CLOSED END FUND DISCOUNTS 1968 TO 1977

This paper examines the behaviour of UK investment trust discounts for a sample of funds over the ten-year period 1968 to 1977. The cross section variability of fund discounts is considered using fundamental analysis and a large number of potentially important factors are isolated and measured. Using multiple regression analysis, the optimal set of explanatory factors is ascertained, and it is found that the best fitting linear model changes substantially from year to year. The results indicate that fundamental analysis using cross section data may not be useful in the analysis and forecasting of UK closed end fund discounts.     

A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF 12B–1 PLANS ON MUTUAL FUND EXPENSE RATIOS

In this paper we re-examine the effect of 12b–1 payments on mutual fund expense ratios by analyzing data from 1988 through 1991. The findings are consistent with previous studies that find charges are a dead-weight cost borne by shareholders. However, we show that this cost increases over time.     

A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE PROXY HYPOTHESIS

In this study we examine whether the proxy hypothesis can explain the puzzling negative relation between real stock returns and expected inflation. Our study improves upon previous tests that suffer from model misspecification and are incomplete. With correctly specified models, we provide a comprehensive test using data from four major industrialized nations during the period of floating exchange rates. Results do not support the proxy hypothesis.     

金融创新力与银行微观经营效益关系探讨

本文首先指出国有商业银行面临贫困增长的严峻现实,并从金融创新的角度,指出国有商业银行微观效益不佳的根源在于金融创新力水平低下.为量化分析和说明问题,作者提出以银行员工创造的人均利润与人均占有的金融资产的比值,作为度量银行金融创新力水平的经济计量值,并通过对历史数据的实证分析,论证金融创新力水平与人均利润高度相关,同时说明自1986年以来国有商业银行金融创新力水平总体呈下降趋势,外延式粗放经营现象十分严重.作者认为金融创新力水平持续走低的深层根源在于体制上的障碍,国有商业银行要想走出困境必须进行产权制度创新,以此带动金融业务、经营方式和同业竞争的全面创新.     

通过关系营销建立新型的银企关系

国有商业银行银企关系是其形成竞争优势的重要资源,银企关系的塑造是企业文化的一部分,国有商业银行应将巩固优质客户群作为一项长期的战略.目前我国银企关系存在的主要问题是由于目标市场细分不够、有效益的客户群的不稳定以及仍不能避免的行政干预使银企关系不够正常,这些问题主要依靠国有商业银行制定和实施全面的关系营销战略予以解决.其侧重点包括:以客户需求为导向,树立质量、服务和营销融为一体的关系营销观念;科学地进行目标市场选择和定位;完整制定和全面实施关系营销战略;建立和完善营销组织机构,培养高素质的员工队伍.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DURATION AND ECONOMIC DEPRECIATION: A NOTE

This note derives an expression for duration in terms of the economic depreciation of a capital budgeting project or financial instrument. By showing how the decline in the value of an asset or liability influences duration, additional insight into the characteristics of this measure is obtained. The new formula shows that duration equals a standard value, which is adjusted for depreciation or appreciation.