The finance literature suggests that analysts’ stock recommendations have negligibleimpact on market prices. Some studies suggest this lack of market impact may be partlydriven by the affiliations between investment banks and the firms their brokerage armscover (conflicts of interest)....

This paper investigates the relationship between leverage and the financial performance of listed firm in Kenya. We use annual data for the period 2002 – 2011. Using various panel procedures, our study finds reasonably strong evidence that leverage significantly, and negatively, affects the...

Background: Investors depend on rating agencies to provide an independent assessment of the ability of companies operating in the transition economy to meet their debt obligations. Any change in a firm's credit rating conveys informed signals about the financial health of the firm and that...

This paper investigates the relationship between leverage and the financial performance of listed firm in Kenya. We use annual data for the period 2002 – 2011. Using various panel procedures, our study finds reasonably strong evidence that leverage significantly, and negatively, affects the...

This paper tests whether sell-side analysts are prone to behavioural errors when making stock recommendations as well as the impact of investment banking relationships on their judgments. In particular, we analyse their report narratives for evidence of cognitive bias. We find first that new buy...

This paper assesses current business financing models that are used in South Africa to aid and/or encourage entrepreneurship as a means of job creation and poverty alleviation. We start by examining how microfinance fares in this attempt. We then suggest possible ways of addressing microfinance...

Possible economic consequences of HIV/AIDS include: increased risk of group life cover, retirement benefit and medical care costs; increased cost of labour due to high staff turnover, absenteeism and compassionate or sick leave; and cost of HIV/AIDS management programs. Given the exposure of most...