Investment fund selection techniques from the perspective of Brazilian pension funds

ABSTRACT The aim of this article was to evaluate the effectiveness of investment fund selection techniques from the perspective of Brazilian pension funds. Asset liability management (ALM) and liability driven investment (LDI) strategies are usually adopted to guide pension fund managers in relation to strategic allocation in asset classes that should compose their investment portfolios and to the liquidity needed in each period, but not specifying in which assets to allocate resources from among the infinity of assets available in the financial market. This article contributes to tactical management in the fixed income and stock segments outsourced via funds and demonstrates that adopting simple indicators can increase investment performance. The article broadens the knowledge on pension fund investment decisions and creates confidence in the adoption of the Sharpe ratio as a technique for choosing investment funds. We analyzed the returns obtained by hypothetical portfolios built using the following techniques: (i) the Sharpe ratio; (ii) the alpha of a multifactor model; (iii) data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency; and (iv) the different combinations of these techniques. We considered information on 369 funds from 2013 to 2018, adopting 12 temporal windows for choosing and re-evaluating the portfolios. The returns obtained were compared with the mean actuarial goal of the benefits plans administered by the pension funds, by means of the unplanned divergence (UD). When outsourcing pension fund investments in fixed income and stock investment funds it was verified that the Sharpe ratio contributes significantly to pension fund performance, compared with other indicators and techniques or a combination of them.

Behavioral Factors Influencing Stock Investment Decision of Individuals

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the behavioral factors influencing individual investors’ decisions and to analyze the relationship between these factors and investment decision performance. Design/Methodology/Approach: The tested variables were: Anchoring bias, Gambler’s Fallacy, Overconfidence bias, Availability and Representativeness bias from heuristics factor, Mental Accounting, Loss and Regret Aversion from prospect factor, and Market variables and Herding factors. The study employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, structural equation modeling is applied for the testing of the hypotheses. Findings: Prospect behavioral factor is seen to have negative correlation to investment performance. Herding, Market variables and Heuristic (including overconfidence and anchoring bias) are found to have positive correlation to investment performance. Implications: To cope with intense competition among the competitors in Nepali stock market, this study provides strong evidence herding and heuristic approach that have positive indication to investment performance

A Review of Studies on Real Estate Investment Performance in Nigeria

This study has been conducted to review the studies conducted on property investment performance in Nigeria with the aim of providing a clear insight into the trend, authors’ affiliations, performance measurement techniques and the geographical focus of these studies. Published and unpublished research works in this research area were sourced and reviewed. The data and information used were sourced from online databases such as Google, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and ResearchGate. Printed journals (local and international), published and unpublished Masters and PhD theses were also among the sources of the data used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the authors’ contributions, affiliations, geographical focus and the annual research trend of real estate investment performance in Nigeria and the results reported. The study found that the first study conducted on the performance of real estate investment was Olaleye (2000) followed by Olaleye (2002). Olaleye, A., Oyewole, M. O. and Dabara, D. I. were found to be the most active and leading researchers on this research area with contributory scores of 3.87, 3.61 and 3.21 respectively. On the average, about 2 studies on the subject were carried out annually with focus majorly on the Lagos property market, Southwest Nigeria. The review further revealed that nominal rate of returns, Sharpe index and coefficient of variation were the common performance measurement indices often adopted by majority of the previous authors. This study recommends that collaborative effort should be established among scholars of estate management and practicing estate surveyors and valuers with a view to bridging the gap between theory and practice and boosting property data banking in Nigeria. The geographical scope of real estate investment performance in Nigeria needs to be expanded to adequately cover all the regional property markets.

MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMISATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT IN FLOATING OFFSHORE SYSTEMS

This paper addresses the need for a rapid, multi-disciplined and rational approach to floating system concept development and selection during the very earliest stages of project definition. It describes the implementation of a modified multi- objective Genetic Algorithm for this purpose. A formulation of the NSGA-II algorithm is combined with additional Target Functions to reduce otherwise large multi-disciplined problems to more tractable solution using tools commonly available in the design office. It also provides a rational basis for the comparison of different design solutions each of which are Pareto Optimal with respect to the technical and economic performance of each underlying concept. A specific example of marginal field development using a novel FPSO concept is presented. Starting with just the oil field location and reserves estimate, the algorithm provides the means to define preliminary hull form and production facility capacities, match performance to payload, and give preliminary indicators of likely investment performance. The method may also be applied more generally in preliminary ship design, particularly where it is possible to model economic performance alongside efficiency, safety and key technical factors in hydrodynamics and structures.

SOME CLARITY ON THE ACCRUAL OF LIVING ANNUITIES AT DEATH OR DIVORCE CM v EM (1086/2018) [2020] ZASCA 48; [2020] 3 All SA 1 (SCA); 2020 (5) SA 49 (SCA) (5 May 2020)

A conventional life annuity is a contract in terms whereof an annuity underwriter guarantees a periodical payment to an insured in exchange for an initial non-refundable premium. The insurer pools all the annuity premiums together and assumes both the investment performance and the mortality risk by way of actuarial comparisons. The annuitant’s income is guaranteed for life or for a minimum period.Living annuities on the other hand are regulated by the Long-Term Insurance Act 52 of 1998 and are market-linked investments (with no income guarantee) in respect of which the annuitant annually chooses the drawdown rate – currently between 2.5 and 17.5 per cent per annum (compare Regulations in terms of s 36 of the Pensions Act 24 of 1956 and s 106(1)(a) read with s 108(1) of the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017.) When an annuitant dies, the death benefit is payable to a nominated beneficiary or the estate of the insured. A pension-interest benefit is an asset for the purposes of the division of an estate at divorce, and includes both pension and provident funds. Living annuities, however, do not fall within the definition of “pension interest” as defined in s 1 of the Divorce Act.In CM v EM ((1086/2018) [2020] ZASCA 48; [2020] 3 All SA 1 (SCA); 2020 (5) SA 49 (SCA) (5 May 2020)), the Supreme Court of Appeal, in an appeal from the full court of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, sitting as court of appeal, had the opportunity to determine where the ownership of capital invested in the form of a living annuity vests, as well as whether the value of an annuitant spouse’s right to future annuity payments is an asset in his or her estate and therefore subject to accrual. Accrual in respect of an estate is the amount by which the net value of the estate at the dissolution of a marriage exceeds the net value of that estate at the commencement of the marriage. At the dissolution of a marriage owing to death and subject to the accrual system, the spouse whose estate shows no accrual, or a smaller accrual than the estate of the other spouse, has a claim against the other spouse or his or her deceased estate.It is submitted that some implications of the accrual dispensation, particularly within the context of certain pension and financial products, are still in their discovery phase, nearly 40 years after their introduction. In the absence of any reference to a living annuity in an antenuptial contract, the question was always whether such an investment is subject to the accrual system at divorce or death. In the context of a life assurance policy, the surrender value of the policy was taken into account in the event of divorce, but in the event of death, the question was whether, for accrual purposes, the factor taken into account should be the surrender value or the policy proceeds. As only assets that form part of the estate of a spouse can be considered for accrual purposes, the very nature of a living annuity had to be investigated in the matter of CM v EM (supra). This case was an application for special leave to appeal from the full court in the matter of Emilio Pietro Valfredo Montanari v Charmaine Helen Montanari (Montanari v Montanari).

Impact of agricultural sector investment development on national economic output

This study aims to capture the investment performance of the agricultural sector in capital formation and the incremental capital output ratio (ICOR) and its relative contribution to the national economy in the 2011-2020 period. ICOR research method is the ratio of changes in output due to changes in capital as an indicator to measure investment performance. The research data used is secondary data obtained from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The results of the study show that the investment performance of the food crop agricultural sector has fluctuated throughout 2011-2020. The impact of the policy on the agricultural sector was generally positive, but in that vulnerable year, investment leakage was found that led to efficiency. The cause of the leakage is the behaviour of rent-seeking which is reflected in the time leading up to the elections, namely in 2014 and 2018 with the leakage rate of the investment budget in that year being very high, namely 74.09% and 84.50%, respectively. The year 2012 was marked by an ICOR value close to 0 (zero) accompanied by the growth and performance of the agri-food sector of 12.80%. In 2013 and 2015 the performance of the food crop sector contributed to the economic growth of the food crop sector by 8.65% and 15.78%. Unfortunately, the potential for loss of income in that year was very high, namely Rp. 8.16 trillion and Rp. 17.45 trillion, respectively. The best period for the performance of the food crop agricultural sector occurred in the rent-seeking behaviour that occurred in 2 motives, namely political and economic motives. Political motives occur through the mechanism of the backing system and lobbying. The economic motive is caused by the emergence of transaction costs for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers so that it leads to an increase in the HET for subsidized fertilizers.

Requirements for the Empirical Assessment of Human-AI Work Systems: A Contribution to AI Measurement Science

The development of AI systems represents a significant investment. But to realize the promise of that investment, performance assessment is necessary. Empirical evaluation of Human-AI work systems must adduce convincing empirical evidence that the work method and its AI technology are learnable, usable, and useful. The theme to this Report is the notion that AI assessment must be effective but must also be efficient. Bench testing of a prototype of an AI system cannot require extensive series of experiments with complex designs. Thus, the empirical requirements that are presented in this Report involve escaping some of the constraints that are imposed in traditional laboratory research. Also, there is a recognition of new constraints that are unique to AI evaluation contexts. Empirical requirements are presented covering study design, research methods, statistical analyses, and online experimentation. The 15 requirements presented in this Report should be applicable to all research intended to evaluate the effectivity of AI systems.

The Internal Connection Analysis of Information Sharing and Investment Performance in the Venture Capital Network Community

In order to explore the internal connection between information sharing and investment performance in the venture capital network community, this study took environmental-governance start-ups as the research object and used the 2009–2020 environmental-social enterprise start-up venture capital investment events as a data sample. The successful exit rate of the venture capital portfolio and the successful listing rate of investment ventures were used as the measurement criteria. Combined with regression analysis, the relationship between information sharing and investment performance in the venture capital network community was analyzed in detail. Research shows that there are differences between the ways of information sharing in the venture capital network communities. In the regression results, all coefficients are less than 0.01. There is a positive correlation between information sharing and investment performance in the venture capital network community. With the increase in enterprise characteristic variables, the degree of enterprise risk information sharing is getting higher and higher. This ultimately leads to more and more frequent corporate investment performance and a higher possibility of acquisition. Among them, the degree of information sharing in the venture capital network community is relatively high, and venture capital companies that are supported by corporate venture capital institutions will benefit even more from listed capital. Not only was the analysis of the relationship between finance and investment in the venture capital network community pointed out in this research, but also the investment development of entrepreneurial enterprises was also provided with feasible suggestions.

Heuristic and Biases Related to Financial Investment and the Role of Behavioral Finance in Investment Decisions: A Case Study of Pakistan Stock Exchange

The Behavioral Determinants (BD) of Perceived Investment Performance (PIP) are considered to be one of the most sizzling research concerns in the world of investment behavioral finance. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the Heuristic and Biases Related to Financial Investment and the Role of Behavioral Finance in Investment Decisions in case of Pakistan stock exchange (PSX). Specifically, this study amid at to identify which biases impact more on PIP and to identify useful insights from the results of the study that may benefit in this discipline. Five likert scale questionnaire adapted from prior studies as it is satisfying the current scenario for industry settings of PSX. A quantitative cross sectional research design has been used in this study. The regression results found that the herding effects, over confidence, availability bias and representativeness have positive and significant impact on perceived investment performance. This study has significance for the individual investors, financial advisors, companies listed in PSX and Government. For the investors, the factors that influence their investment performance are crucial as these will influence their financial plans of future. Practical implications includes investors who desires to invest should incorporate the said BD for the accurate valuation of the assets and in taking future investment decisions. In PSX, it is first endeavor to uncover the HE, OC, AB and R as BD of PIP. This paper contribute to the existing body of literature since main stream of the previous studies concentrate more on the developed countries markets of the world. Moreover, this study put forth a well-integrated model to probe the effect of variables under consideration on PSX. Reflection of the said effect of behavioral impact in the decision making process of individuals will make the decisions more optimal and rational as well.