Earnings management and initial public offerings: The case of the depository industry

In a typical IPO, insiders are “net sellers” of IPO shares; however, in a demutualizing thrift, insiders are “net buyers” of IPO shares. Using a sample of mutual depository IPOs, we find evidence consistent with earnings management prior to the conversion of mutual thrifts. We find on average that mutuals report lower ROA and increased loan loss provisions and loan loss reserves in the period prior to the demutualization. Using a two-stage approach, we also find that the level of discretionary loan loss provisions and discretionary reserves are positively related to both the level of insider participation in the IPO and the first-day returns to investors. Our results are consistent with management of mutual thrifts benefiting at the conversion from reduced pre-IPO earnings and book equity resulting from earnings management.     

国际储备的演进与储备货币的价值分析

进入新世纪全球国际储备规模快速扩张,结构显著变化,进一步凸显了当代国际货币体系固有的体制性缺陷。研究表明,主导新世纪国际储备的主权信用货币实际上只有主权而没有信用。因此,当代国际储备体系必须改革,中国的国际储备也应该调整。     

我国外汇储备规模的计量模型与实证分析

近年来,我国外汇储备上升的速度相当迅猛,储备量居高不下。截至2008年12月末,我国外汇储备余额为19 460.3亿美元,将近是2006年10月外汇储备突破万亿大关时的两倍。巨额的外汇储备在某些方面的确有利于维护我国的经济安全,也可以体现我国的综合国力,但是持续过快的增长,也给我国的经济带来了许多不利影响。本文利用Eviews统计软件对影响我国外汇储备规模的诸因素进行回归分析,分析了导致我国外汇储备超常增长的主要原因及巨额的外汇储备对我国经济产生的不利影响,并对此提出若干解决措施。     

我国石油储备的必要性分析

本文从经济学供需分析的视角,采取计量的方法,分析我国石油储备建立的必要性。建立石油储备是我国国内需求不断攀升的需要,是我国国民经济稳定发展的需要,可以避免油价的大幅波动,减少石油供应中断风险,减少国家的外汇支出。     

Scarce collateral and bank reserves

If collateral for bank loans is scarce and, if as a result, access to secured loans is restricted, the allocation of resources is inefficient. In anticipation of future borrowing constraints, individuals over-invest in collateralized types of capital, and consume and invest inefficiently low levels while they are borrowing constrained. The dual counterpart of this misallocation of resources is inefficiently low interest rates. In this situation, bank reserves play a positive welfare role by adding liquidity to the economy and by increasing not only bank lending rates, but also, paradoxically, bank deposit rates. As a result, in economies with scarce collateral the optimal reserves–requirement ratio is positive.     

基于双基准与多风险制度下的中国外汇储备币种结构配置研究

内容借鉴Markowitz基本均值方差模型的思想,本文运用基于双投资基准和多风险制度的投资组合模型对我国外汇储备币种结构配置进行了实证研究。本文首先从中国实际出发确定了两个投资基准和三种风险制度,进而在此基础上实证研究了在不同投资基准、不同风险制度和不同风险厌恶度情况下的我国外汇储备币种结构。最后,本文提出在不同风险制度转换过程中所对应的我国外汇储备各币种所占比重的调整方向。     

Capital in British banking, 1920–1970

British banks have long attached great importance to capital. Currently they are subject to greater scrutiny and regulation on this issue than ever before. However, it was not until the disclosure of ‘hidden reserves’ in 1970 that a true picture of British banks' capital emerged. This article uses archival evidence to reveal the capital ratios of several major banks for much of the twentieth century, and demonstrates how these ratios were influenced by official restrictions. Overall the banks maintained much higher levels of capital than implied by their published accounts, although the impact of official restrictions was to force them to operate with lower capital ratios than they desired. But it is argued that capital ratios were neither achieved nor maintained at the expense of reduced or less risky lending.     

资产减值准则对企业会计盈余的影响——基于深交所2004～2005年年报数据的初步分析

亏损企业和扭亏企业有可能利用计提或转回减值准备对企业进行盈余管理。由于减值准备的存在,部分亏损企业利用计提大额减值准备对企业进行“大清洗”,为以后年度扭亏进行适度的准备;扭亏企业则可能利用减值准备的转回调增利润,实现盈利。2006年《企业会计准则第8号—资产减值》规定,资产减值损失一经确认,在以后的会计期间不得转回,这将对企业利用减值准备调节利润起到一定的遏制作用。但资产减值的会计判断仍可能成为今后企业进行盈余管理的重要手段之一,建议进一步明确可转回减值损失规定,加强对2006年年报的监督和管理。     

Employer and employee obligations and rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

As more Reserve and National Guard troops are called to leave the civilian workforce and enter military service, employers must understand the legal rights those service members possess and the employers’ legal obligations that are now required under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Current data and litigation trends suggest many employers are not fully aware of their legal obligations under USERRA and the punishing legal liability they may face. USERRA applies to virtually all employers, and the law uniquely provides for both corporate and individual liability for discriminating against employees or applicants because of military service. This article provides an overview of USERRA from the perspective of employers, employees, and potential employees. Practical advice is rendered herein not only for those covered by the Act, but also for employers regarding adherence to this law while avoiding liability under USERRA.     

关于当前金融运行中的四个问题

在宏观调控取得明显成效的现实背景下,我国金融运行仍然面临诸多挑战。其中,银行不良贷款的制度刚性、外汇储备增长过快、股票市场持续低迷和部分地区房地产泡沫风险对我国银行业的稳健发展和金融体系安全带来的挑战尤为严峻。本文对这四大挑战的成因、影响和应对策略进行了全面深入地分析。