Using a unique dataset from a well-known survey on derivatives use, this paper examines several questions about the use of derivatives to take a view on interest-rate and currency movements. Tests of what motivates firms to take a view suggest that they view speculation as a profitable activity....

We examine how corporations' exposures to interest rates, exchange rates, and commodity prices are related to investors' and analysts' expectations about firms' earnings. The results indicate that investors and analysts encounter difficulties estimating the earnings effects of the risk exposures...

We document that cash flow volatility is associated with lower levels of investment in capital expenditures, Ramp;D, and advertising. Thus, firms do not turn to external capital markets to fully cover cash-flow short falls. Consistent with this conclusion, we document that the sensitivity of...

We examine firms' use of currency derivatives in order to differentiate among existing theories of hedging behavior. Firms with greater growth opportunities and tighter financial constraints are more likely to use currency derivatives. This result suggests that firms might use derivatives to...

This paper examines the use of credit derivatives by US bank holding companies from 1999 to 2003 with assets in excess of one billion dollars. Using the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Bank Holding Company Database, we find that in 2003 only 19 large banks out of 345 use credit derivatives....

Firms hold liquid assets to enhance their ability to invest efficiently when external financing costs are high, especially during poor macroeconomic conditions. Using a sample of 47,378 acquisitions from 36 countries between 1997 and 2014, we study how the relation between firms' cash holdings...

We investigate whether the value of large banks, defined as banks with assets in excess of the Dodd-Frank threshold for enhanced supervision, increases with the size of their assets using Tobin's q and market-to-book as our valuation measures. Many argue that large banks receive subsidies from...

We investigate corporate governance experts' claim that it is detrimental to a firm to reappoint former CEOs as directors after they step down as CEOs. We find that more successful and more powerful former CEOs are more likely to be reappointed to the board multiple times after they step down as...