Tuesday, August 25, 2020

How to Capitalize the Earth, Sun, and Moon (Plus Other Celestial Objects)

Step by step instructions to Capitalize the Earth, Sun, and Moon (Plus Other Celestial Objects) Step by step instructions to Capitalize the Earth, Sun, and Moon (Plus Other Celestial Objects) The night’s sky can rouse numerous musings. A researcher may fantasy about finding another planet. A craftsman, then again, may discover the excellence of the stars enrapturing. Be that as it may, as editors, our brains quickly float to capitalization. So go along with us for a gander at when to underwrite divine articles. Formal people, places or things in Space At the point when we state â€Å"celestial objects,† we essentially mean â€Å"naturally happening space stuff.† This incorporates planets, stars, moons, worlds, comets, and basically whatever else that you may find in space. Everything in this image, at that point. You simply need to zoom in a ton to select anything. We underwrite the name of a heavenly article when it is a formal person, place or thing. Or on the other hand at the end of the day, we possibly start a word with a capital letter on the off chance that it names a particular divine body, not only a sort. Along these lines, for example, the word â€Å"planet† is a typical thing (i.e., a kind of heavenly body). â€Å"Uranus,† in the interim, is a formal person, place or thing (i.e., a particular planet). In that capacity, we don’t need to underwrite â€Å"planet,† yet we do utilize a capital letter toward the beginning of â€Å"Uranus.† Other models include: Basic Noun Formal person, place or thing planet Mars, Venus, Saturn moon Europa, Titan, Callisto star Polaris, Rigel, Sirius world Smooth Way, Andromeda comet Halley’s Comet, Hale-Bopp cloud Orion Nebula, Crab Nebula The key by and large, at that point, is to consider whether you’re naming something conventional or explicit. In any case, there are a couple of words that can create turmoil, including â€Å"earth,† â€Å"sun,† and â€Å"moon.† Instructions to Capitalize Earth, Sun and Moon Certain â€Å"space† words can be either regular things or formal people, places or things. At the point when we state â€Å"the moon,† for instance, we’re generally alluding to the round item we find in the night’s sky. Be that as it may, different planets have their own moons, so how would you underwrite this term in those cases? Or then again others like it? Tragically, there is no single â€Å"correct† approach here. NASA, for example, state: Underwrite â€Å"Moon† when alluding to Earth’s Moon; in any case, lowercase â€Å"moon† (e.g., â€Å"The Moon circles Earth,† â€Å"Jupiter’s moons†). However, other style guides, for example, MLA, recommend possibly promoting terms like â€Å"moon† when they show up in a sentence close by other formal people, places or things (e.g., â€Å"The planet Mercury is bigger than the Moon†). At last, this may come down to which style direct you are utilizing (or individual inclination). By and large, however, we favor the MLA approach. This implies possibly promoting â€Å"earth,† â€Å"sun,† and â€Å"moon† when you are both: Alluding to the Earth, its Moon or its Sun (not different moons or suns). Utilizing the term close by other promoted divine articles. In this way, keeping these standards, we would underwrite these terms as follows: The sun is sparkling splendidly today. What in the world would you say you are discussing? The moon is practically full today around evening time. The Earth is a lot nearer to Mars than the Sun. You ought not, obviously, underwrite â€Å"earth† when alluding to soil or the ground. That sort of â€Å"earth† is consistently a typical thing. Rundown: How to Capitalize Celestial Objects Generally speaking, you will possibly need to underwrite heavenly items when they are formal people, places or things. By and by, this implies: Utilizing a capital letter with the names of explicit articles (e.g., Saturn, Mars). Not underwriting nonexclusive articles (e.g., planet, star, system). This turns into somewhat more confounded with the words â€Å"earth,† â€Å"sun,† and â€Å"moon.† The guidelines here fluctuate between various style aides and foundations, however we will in general underwrite these terms just when: Alluding to the Earth, its Moon or its Sun (not different moons or suns). Utilizing the term close by other promoted divine articles. The most significant factor, however, is applying a steady capitalization style all through your work. Also, if you’d like an expert to check your composition, present a record for editing today.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Determines Accounting Quality Changes †Free Samples to Students

Question: Talk about the Determines Accounting Quality Changes. Answer: Presentation The IASB represents International bookkeeping standard board is an autonomous body that sets guidelines for the International budgetary announcing principles (IFRS). It was established on first of April 2001 to advance and give applications to the gauges for revealing. The essential target of the body is to set the guidelines of representing deliberate introduction of the organization books (Li et al.2017). The issue has occurred at present that the Germany is looking because of the assembly of the bookkeeping arrangements around the world. In the wake of examining the data from the contextual analysis of Germany logical issues of intermingling of International Financial Reporting Standards bookkeeping (Hellmann, Perera and Patel 2010), I can say that the goals of IASB for this situation, isn't accomplished. The bookkeepers of Germany face issue in the translation and the use of the revealing gauges, as in the majority of cases they need information (Eierle et al.2018). The principle issue as indicated by me is the measures set by the IASB are unpredictable and it needs determined information to get them. In addition the guidelines and guidelines in Germany are dictated by the EU enactment, the principles set by the IASB are not predictable administration. At that point comes the issue of cost, numerous people in Germany consider as being too costly to even consider implementing particularly for the little and medium estimated organizations. They likewise think the standard set by the IASB are superfluous as it very well may be deciphered in number of ways (Christensen et al.2015). Assistance of union and use of IFRS in the Germany needs interpretation from English to German. There is need the gracefully of sufficient number of qualified and prepared bookkeeper to execute the gauges set by the IASB. As indicated by me, the goal of IASB to give the guidelines of bookkeeping are not satisfied (Wang 2014). The German so as to raise reserves universally should beat the issues referenced. Issues looked by Germany because of the Convergence of the Accounting strategies. Because of the intermingling of the bookkeeping arrangements, the Germany is confronting inconvenience in adjusting IFRS strategies set by the IASB. As per meet the rundown of the issues looked by them are as per the following: Cost of usage of the IFRS approaches: The expense of adjusting the arrangements of IFRS is high for the little and fair measured firm. The organizations are battling for this weight of staffing and preparing the workers to comprehend the arrangements. Absence of instruction help and preparing: The a large portion of the cases in the exploration it has been discovered that the German firm needs appropriate information and skilful representatives to comprehend and actualize the IFRS arrangements the executives. Campaigning of exercises: The people and the gatherings makes entryway against the endeavors of IASB to require IFRS for the budget summaries. Interpretation of the arrangements: The most if the approaches of the IFRS are in English, they are should have been deciphered in German so as to make it reasonable. Understanding issues: The standard idea of IFRS is deciphered diversely in various nations. Because of absence of comprehension, the record may dishonestly misjudge the approach prompting incorrectness. End The German enactment fused the requirement for embracing the IFRs into the German law. This lead to a significant issue for the bookkeeping first to receive the new change in quite a while set up by the IASB. So as to prosper in the global market, the Germany needs to defeat these potential issues. References Christensen, H.B., Lee, E., Walker, M. what's more, Zeng, C., 2015. Motivators or norms: What decides bookkeeping quality changes around IFRS adoption?.European Accounting Review,24(1), pp.31-61. Eierle, B., Shirkhani, D. also, Helduser, C., 2018. The Need to Provide Internationally Comparable Accounting Information and the Application of IFRS: Empirical Evidence from German Private Firms.Accounting in Europe, pp.1-24. Hellmann, A., Perera, H. also, Patel, C. 2010. Logical issues of the combination of International Financial Reporting Standards: The instance of Germany. Advances in Accounting, joining Advances in International Accounting, 26(1), pp. 108 116. Li, S., Sougiannis, T. what's more, Wang, I., 2017. Compulsory IFRS Adoption and the Usefulness of Accounting Information in Predicting Future Earnings and Cash Flows. Wang, C., 2014. Bookkeeping principles harmonization and fiscal report likeness: Evidence from transnational data transfer.Journal of Accounting Research,52(4), pp.955-992.

Friday, August 7, 2020

What I Learned During My Year of Supporting Local Authors

What I Learned During My Year of Supporting Local Authors This is a guest post from Tracy Shapley. Tracy is a freelance copywriter, all around ne’er do well, and occasional waterer of plants. Her hobbies include writing fiction, mixing together various flavors of soup, and trying to convince her friends that she’s not a hipster. Character development is more important to her than plot and she has read every Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. She has a lot of thoughts on them. Tracy lives in an old farmhouse in Iowa City with her partner Sean, their two cats Dry Bones and Gristle, and the ghost of Kurt Vonnegut. I’m lucky enough to be an (old!) undergraduate student studying fiction writing at the University of Iowa, located in one of the most literary of literary towns: Iowa City, Iowa. This is where Flannery O’Conner studied writing, where Vonnegut began work on Slaughterhouse-Five, and where Marilynne Robinson lives, teaches, writes, and pastors. It’s easy to get caught up in the canonical history here but I must also remember that it’s the place Sandra Cisneros very openly hated studying. And for good reason! The long list of “impressive” fiction professors at my university have included Raymond Carver, John Cheever, John Irving, Philip Roth, T.C. Boyle, Jonathan Ames, and Richard Yates. What do these folks all have in common? I’ll give you two hints:          White          Dudes It’s true that these days it’s somewhat more diverse. The director of the Writers’ Workshop is Lan Samantha Chang, who is decidedly neither white nor a dude, and current faculty include James Alan McPherson and Thomas Sayers Ellis. Still, after reading We Wanted to Be Writers: Life, Love, and Literature at the Iowa Writers Workshop, and discovering what a wonderful experience studying or teacher here was for most white men and what a frustrating experience it was for many women and people of color, I decided to stop throwing my hands up in the air and clutching my pearls and start doing something about it. Well, half of that is true â€" I’m sticking with the pearl clutching / arm throwing because there’s still plenty of stuff to clutch and throw about. But last year I made it my goal to support today’s crop of diverse writers in Iowa City and I learned a few things along the way. Buying books was the easy part The only requirement for admission to the graduate program here, the famed Iowa Writers’ Workshop, is a GPA of at least 3.0 (though this is a soft requirement students with lower GPAs are sometimes considered). Technically, it’s possible for someone to get into the Workshop if they’ve never published, but it’s uncommon. Earned reputation or not, it’s considered the top program in the country and the cream of the crop tend to flock here so most of the folks here have published. Buying their books was easy â€" I just headed to our local bookstore, Prairie Lights, which often makes it on lists of the top bookstores in the country, and browsed the “Local Authors” shelves. On the surface Prairie Lights may not seem like a particularly interesting bookstore, but a stop at the delicious coffee shop / wine bar and a chat with bookseller Paul Ingram (recipient of one of James Patterson’s holiday bonuses) is enough for anyone to understand that the hype is (mostly) deserved. I bought one new book every month. I didn’t do much planning â€" just walked into the bookstore and bought a book that looked interesting by someone local I’d never heard of. For the most part I stuck to my preferred genre of literary fiction but I made a point to pick up one book of poetry and one book of essays as well. Getting to readings was relatively easy There are literary readings most nights of the week and often at multiple venues. For a city with just over 70,000 people, that’s a pretty impressive feat. I mean, just think about this for a minute: Back in 2013, not long after I’d moved here, I went to the Englert Theatre to see Margaret Atwood. It was a free reading so I knew I needed to get there early and assumed an hour early would be fine â€" the theatre holds 725 people for heck’s sake â€" but, not for the first time in my life, I was wrong. The theatre was filled beyond capacity over an hour before the reading started. Good showing, Iowa City! My goal was to make it to a reading a week. I went to a huge variety of readings, from open mic poetry nights in dark bars to the Live from Prairie Lights series, which is a weekly reading from students in the International Writing Program (IWP). As with any type of art, these readings were hit and miss. Every time I decided readings weren’t for me, when I’d sat through several weeks of nervous, monotone authors reading work that wasn’t in my wheelhouse, I’d come across someone doing a reading with puppets or a collaboration with an author and her actor friends, and I’d remember that writing is more than just words on a page, or words streaming out of someone’s mouth â€" it is art. It can be expressed in many different ways. Reviewing every book was a challenge All right, so I invested my hard earned money in lots of books â€" go me! And I went to a bunch of readings. Great job, self! What next? Reviewing them, obviously. If the purpose is to support authors on a smaller scale then getting them the miniscule amount of exposure I’m capable of getting them seemed that it should be one of my duties. I used the typical routes â€" Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, my blog etc. I also reached out to the authors when possible. I didn’t do any creepy stalking but with smaller presses and lesser known authors there’s usually a website that includes contact information. I’d just jot a quick note and let them know I’d reviewed their work. I was surprised by how excited several of them were â€" and by how excited I was when one added my quote to her online blurb section. That’s one step away from a Pulitzer, right? Okay, maybe two steps. What did I learn in my year of supporting local authors? So, I identified an issue I have with the publishing world: so much attention is given to big-name authors, many of whom are white and / or male, and not enough attention is given to authors with local followings, to those hawking their books online and suffering through the humiliating experience of reading their most private thoughts on a stage to people who are often just staring numbly at their phones, uninterested in or unaware of the vulnerability in front of them. What did I learn? First of all, none of the “local” authors I read were actually local. I hadn’t considered that before I started but the vast majority of what the locals here refer to as “local” authors are in fact former students / professors at the Workshop and almost none of them come from anywhere near here. Like me, they were transplants to a city that most of the world imagines is nestled in the middle of one big old corn field of a state. I also learned how grateful writers can be to just have someone giving the work a listen or a close read. It humanized the writing process for me. I don’t know why but those people, the ones who write books and have their pictures on dust jackets, I’d always felt that they’d done the work already. They’ve been published, they’re out there in the world. Now they’re authors. But in reality it’s a constant struggle. They are never done. They are always working and looking for a new audience. I can’t say that I do any less pearl clutching, but I am grateful to have spent a year of my life as a member of that audience.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Report into the financial performance of sage group - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2132 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? The sage report discusses the financial performance of the Sage Group as a whole for the financial year 2007. The group has a significant presence in 20 countries worldwide, providing services to 5.8m customers to help managing their businesses more efficiently and effectively through the provision of their products and quality services. Sage is one of the efficient leading and prominent worldwide supplier of business management software to SMEs. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Report into the financial performance of sage group" essay for you Create order It is the leading supplier in chosen market segments concentrating primarily on customers whose business has less than 500 employees. Main highlights are: Group Revenue rose to  £1157.60m showing a growth of 23.73% over the last year with organic growth of 7%. Operating profit rose to  £255.30m showing an increase of 8.27%. Dividend per share rose by 95% to 7p per share from the last year figure of 3.59p. New customers gained during the year were 40,000 12,000 new contracts received. Net cash generated was  £220.2m from their operating activities compared with the last year of  £192.8m. Earnings per share increased to 11.85pfor financial year 2007. Introduction Sage group is one of the most leading suppliers of business management software to 5.8 million customers worldwide. It found in 1981; the core business of software group sage is the development and distribution of accounting, salary check management software for different type of businesses. From small setup to large the organisations, the company is giving opportunity to makes it easier to handle their business processes. Research and analysis Objectives The purpose of this report is the detailed analysis of the current financial position and the future prediction of the sage group from the investment point of view. An investor is more interested in the profitability, liquidity and return on investment, its rapid growth and growth in market share, its current financial position and future prospects of the company and management competency and strategies. As the purpose of the report is to make an analysis from investors point of view, so I focused on the following aspects as primary objectives of my report. Analyses of the current position the Sage Group. Review of the changes and reasons for them. Future of the company. Whether the company is worthwhile from investors point of view In order to achieve these objectives I will carry out the detailed ratio analysis of the financial position and growth of the company such as. Liquidity ratios. Profitability and return ratios. Investment ratios. Long te rm solvency, gearing and leverage ratios. Methods of Analysis The basic and common methods of analysis of a company about its financial position are as follows; Investor analysis; Trend (vertical analysis); Horizontal Analysis; Ratios Analysis. Horizontal Analysis This method is a comparison of an entitys performance over a particular period of time to that of a similar entity. Comparisons are only effective, if the companies operate at same level and in same market. Even if the companies are similar, Competitor Company might have not performed to its full capacity. Trend Analysis or Vertical Analysis This is where the companys performance is compared in a period of time. This can identify the trends e.g. revenue or profitability growth as well as decline or seasonality. Ratio Analysis The ratio analysis is classified into four categories; Liquidity Ratios Liquidity means a liquid asset is one which can be easily converted into cash at a market value. It helps in financing and investing decisions of the company. It actually measures the short term solvency of a company, it includes following; Current ratio is current assets/current liabilities. Ideally it is thought that it should be between 1.0 1.5, but it can vary depending upon the sector. Quick ratio expresses the proportion of current asset minus(less) stock to current liabilities. This is expected to be Parity so that liabilities (short-term) can be met. Debtors days is the number of days taken by trade debtors to make a payment Creditors day is the numbers of days given by creditors to give them payment. Profitability and Return: Gross and net profit margins show the relationship between the profit turnover (sales). Comparing the gross profit margins will show the efficiency, whereas net profit margin indicates its overheads and administration have been well-managed. Returns can be indicated by Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) or Return on Shareholders Funds (ROSF), this is more commonly demonstrated as earning per share (EPS) or dividend yield. ROCE is a ratio with two elements, profit margin multiplied by asset turnover. This ratio gives a more comprehensive view of trading performance. Long-term Solvency, Gearing and Leverage: Gearing shows the long-term debt in relation to shareholders funds. Highly geared companies are much more risky in their financial position, because interest payments have to be met, regardless of profitability and because of this reason further financing might be difficult and expensive to obtain. However interest payments are the payments in which tax deduction making debt cheaper than equity. Equally, a company with low gearing may have an inefficient capital structure because equity is more expensive. Debt ratio comprises of total debts to total assets, which is mostly important for the companies with high proportions of liabilities in their balance sheet. Interest cover indicates if the company is in position to manage its interest demands and positions how many times a company can repay the interest of its current earnings. Investment Ratios: Price earning (PE) is highly used investor ratio. It is the ratio of current share price to the EPS. High price ratio indicates strong confidence in the company. Dividend yield is the yield a company pays out to its shareholders in form of dividends. This ratio is more useful for investors who are looking for a steady dividend income rather than just capital growth. TREND RATIO ANALYSIS OF SAGE GROUP Sage Groups performance over the last three years is steady as its published accounts show an increase in its revenue, operating profit, its cash and Asset growth. PROFITABILITY RETURN Revenue The revenue has grown from FY2005 ( £759.60m) to FY2006 ( £935.60m) by 23.17% and a further increase of 23.73% in FY2006 ( £935.60m) to FY2007 ( £1157.60m). North America Region was the one highest contributing towards Revenue of  £508.10m this year compared to last year of  £361.5m showing an increase of over 40%, with Mainland Europe on 2nd place showing an increase of around  £50m i.e. 16.44% over the year 2006. Profits Gross profit of the company is nearly the same compared to last year. In FY2006, it was 91.41% and this year it is nearly the same figure as the last year. i.e. 91.04%. it has increased by 23.23% from FY2007 ( £855.20m) to FY2008 ( £1053.90m). The pre-tax profit has grown from FY2005 ( £193.60m) to FY2006 ( £221.20m) by14.26% and a further increase of just around by 1%from FY2006 to FY2007. The highest operating profit came from the Region of Mainland Europe showing a percentage increase of 20.89% over FY2006 giving a net increased figure of  £12.3m. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) ROCE has increased from 15.09% in FY2006 to 17.35% in FY2007 which shows a steady increase from investors point of view. Gearing Gearing of the group for YR2006 was 35.45%, which dropped to 30.70% in FY2007. The low gearing ratio shows that the company is enrich in its funds to meet its long-term liabilities. The company is in less financial risk. Furthermore decrease in the gearing and an increase in the profit shows that company is in strong financial position. Return on Shareholders Funds (ROSF) ROSF for FY2006 was 15.61% which dropped just by 0.90% to 14.67% for FY2007. It is due to the increase in shareholders funds even though the profitability has improved over the last year but it is not in line with the increase in funds. LIQUIDITY RATIOS Current Ratio Current ratio of the company for the current year was 0.524. For the FY2007, it was 0.543. It is because of slight decrease in cash cash equivalents from  £81.4m to  £64.3m payables were increased by  £9.9m over the previous year. As compared to the threshold of 1:1, it is well behind the standard which means the company might be unable to pay its debt on time. In, practice the comfortably in excess of 1 should be expected but it can be varied depending on the types of businesses. Quick Ratio / Acid Test Ratio The quick ratio of the group for the current year is 0.514 compared to last year of 0.553 for the same reason as mentioned in current ratio. Debtors Days Receivable conversion period for the current period is 61 days (60.81 days), compared to the last year of 72 days (72.21 days). It shows the improvement of cash collections over the last year to increase the liquidity. Creditors Days Payable conversion period for the current period is 352 days compared to the last year of 432 days. Once again the longer the period of creditors days, the longer will be the liquidity resources availability. INVESTMENT RATIOS Earnings Per Share (EPS) EPS have slightly increased by 0.04p from 11.81p to 11.85p which shows the increased profits over the previous period. It can also be seen through increased payment of dividends to shareholders worth  £49.0m compared to last year of  £39.1m. Price Earnings Price Earnings ratio for the current year is 18.7 compared to last year which was 21.3. The higher the P/E ratio suggests the investors expect high earning growth in future. P/E Ratio cant itself give the whole picture until compared with the other company in the market or industry average. Dividend Per Share (DPS) Dividend per share for the current year was 7.0p compared to last year of 3.59p, showing an increase of 95% over last year. Increase in dividend per share means that the companys management believes that growth can be sustained for foreseeable future. Dividend Yield Dividend Cover Dividend yield for the current period is 2.8% for the current year compared to last year of 1.4% which is doubled. The higher is the yield, the more desirable among investors. Dividend cover of the company for the current period is 1.693X for the current period compared to the last year of 3.2X. A ratio of 2X is considered to be safe in industry as the company can well afford the dividend. LONG TERM SOLVENCY, GEARING LEVERAGE Gearing Gearing of the group for YR2006 was 35.45%, which dropped to 30.70% in FY2007. The low gearing ratio shows that the company has sufficient funds to meet its long-term liabilities. The company is in less financial risk. Furthermore decrease in the gearing and an increase in the profit shows that company is in strong financial position. Debt Ratio (Leverage) Debt ratio for the current year is 0.5241 compared to the last year of 0.5578. A ratio less than 1 indicates that the group has more assets than its debts representing the low level of risk attached to the group. Interest Cover Interest Cover for the current period is 7.98X compared to the last year of 13.77X which is still quite high to cover its interest costs. CONCLUSION The group has shown growth in all the sectors of economy. It has been producing consistent results over the years. The revenue has increased significantly over the last few years. The company has healthy operating profits for the current period. Compared to the last periods, its progress is not as good as it was in the past few periods. Overall the group has performed well against the benchmarks set by the company and was in line with the groups forecasts set. Another key thing observed the customer satisfaction renewal level for the group was above 80% for the year 2007. It has low gearing which represents the low financial risk and groups ability to meet its obligations in case of emergency. Its ROCE has increased which again is good from investors perspective. The group is paying dividends consistently over the past few years which again attract the shareholders investors. Debt ratio of the company is 0.52 which indicates that the assets of the company are nearly doubled to its liabilities which once again are an indication of low financial risk. APPENDIX Sage Group Plc. 2007 2006 ( £m) ( £m) Revenue 1157.60 935.60 Gross Profit 1053.90 855.20 Operating Profit/loss 255.30 235.80 EBITA 283.20 249.30 Interest Expense 35.50 18.10 Profit before tax 223.30 221.20 Profit after tax 154.10 152.60 Shareholders Funds 1050.80 977.60 Creditors: Due in 1 year 982.40 777.70 Creditors: Due more than 1 year 561.30 660.90 Total Debt 1157.00 1233.30 Fixed Assets 1544.40 1475.70 Current Assets 301.40 303.30 Total Assets 2207.80 2210.90 Current Liabilities 575.50 558.40 Trade Receivables Net 200.70 185.10 Trade Payables 105.0 95.10 RATIO ANALYSIS PROFITABILITY RETURN Operating profit 255.30 235.80 Operating Margin 22.05% 25.20% Net Margin 13.31% 16.31% Interest Cover 7.98X 13.77X ROCE 17.35% 15.09% Debt Ratio 0.5241 0.5578 ROSF 14.67% 15.61% Gearing 30.79% 35.45% MARKET RATIOS EPS 11.85p 11.81p Dividend Per Share 7.00p 3.59p Dividend Cover 1.693 3.29 Dividend Yield 2.8 1.4 PE Ratio 18.7p 21.3p LIQUIDITY Current Ratio 0.524 0.543 Acid test Ratio 0.514 0.553 Efficiency Ratios Average Collection Period 60.81 days 72.21 days Payable Conversion Period 352.15 days 431.74 days Inventory Conversion Period 19.36 days 25.42 days Segmental Revenue Segment 2007 2006 %age Increase UK 224.1m 205.2m 9.21% Mainland Europe 349.1m 299.8m 16.44% North America 508.1m 361.5m 40.55% Rest of the world 76.3m 69.1m 10.42% Segmental Operating Profit 2007 2006 %age Increase UK 80.8m 76.5m 5.62 Mainland Europe 71.2m 58.9m 20.89 North America 83.4m 82.4m 1.21 Rest of the world 19.8m 18.2m 8.79

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Small Business...

SIGNMENT SUBMISSION FORM This sheet must be submitted with your assignment. Failure to complete, sign and submit this form will result in a mark of ‘0’ for the assignment. Student Name ELENA UTA Student ID P1030912 Assessor Name SHABNAM S. Qualification PEARSON BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma Business (Management) Unit Number Unit Title Unit 33: Marketing Principle (MP) Assignment Title Assessment of the Performance of a Small Business Enterprise Date of Submission 30.10.2016 By submitting this form and signing below, I declare that: †¢ I am the author of this assignment and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully disclosed and acknowledged in this assignment †¢ I also certify that this assignment was prepared by me specifically for this course †¢ I certify that I have taken all reasonable precautions to make sure that my work has not been copied by other students †¢ I confirm that I have understood the College’s regulations on plagiarism †¢ I confirm that research resources are fully acknowledged †¢ Signature: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ELENA UTA †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Date: †¦30.10.2016†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Introduction Marketing is the social process by which individuals and organisation obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging value with others. (Kotler Armstrong, 2010). The marketing process of accompany typically involves identifying the viable and potential marketing opportunities in the environment, developing strategies to effective utilise theShow MoreRelatedBalanced Scorecard Systems for Small and Medium Enterprises796 Words   |  3 Pagesan organization’s business strategy and performance system. In SMEs the role of performance management becomes more essential because the workforce is now operating at an optimum level. In small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the employees are less in number than in larger organizations. Without a proper structured performance measurement and appraisal system, direction, expectations and their roles cannot be effectively communicated to them. Workforce is critical to any business – but how does theRead Mor eEffects Of Cash Management1482 Words   |  6 Pagesdecisions and financing decisions as independent variables were used to measure financial performance in place of the dependent variable. The researchers were used self-administered questionnaire with quantities, and sample size of 100. The study presented that measured individually; there is a positive relationship between working capital management; investment decisions; financial decisions and financial performance. 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The European Commission states that â€Å"the criterion of the number of staff as the main criterion, however, introducing a financial criterion is nonetheless a necessary adjunct in order to grasp the real scale and performance of an enterprise and its position comparedRead MoreAnalysis Of Social Responsibility Report And Annual Report Of The Company953 Words   |  4 Pagescompany’s social obligation and its economic performance. The article will first define the corporate social responsibility. Secondly, it will introduce the previous research and their conclusions. Then it will analyze the case of Lenovo. Finally, it will summarize the research results and give suggestions for enterprises about their social responsibility. 2. Literature review 2.1 Previous research about the revelance between CSR and economic performance The research conclusion of the relevance betweenRead MoreStrategic And Operational Plans For New Technologies Essay1385 Words   |  6 Pagessought after for my experience and skill in being able to fuel an agency’s desire to change and adopt a culture that thrives on innovation and I have been successful, by authoring the strategic and operational plans, necessary to move the agency business goals forward. I have been implementing the corresponding governance oversight to ensure that the plans result in the successful adoption of new technologies. Over 20 years of experience in providing expert, high-level technical advice and counselRead MoreA Critical Evaluation And Analysis Of Two Small And Medium Enterprises1516 Words   |  7 Pagesoverview about SMEs. A critical evaluation and analysis of two small and medium enterprises, Icosium and NotontheHighStreet.com will be presented in this report and also will include the following steps: the business concept and sources of competitive advantage, the current demand and the competitive environment, the growth and development of the business to date, the challenges of managing and running the business, an estimate of the current valuation of the business, the SMEs current growth and developmentRead MoreThe Impact Of Accounting And Information Technology1704 Words   |  7 Pagesaccounting theory is based on financial accounting practices used in the formation of a series of methods of the theory, mainly the development and implementation of accounting practice norms, is to guide and constrain accounting standards, the basis for evaluation of accounting. The development of accounting and information technology has given an impact to the accounting objectives, accounting assumptions and accounting information technology. Accounting objective refers to certain social conditions, theRead MoreAn Evaluation of Groupware Implementation: Delivering Value or Trouble to the Organization1221 Words   |  5 Pagesversus delivering significant value, the business process and human factors need to first factored into any planning effort overall. It is the intention of this analysis to evaluate how technologies can be used to support business processes, objectives and also enable greater change management potential for success. Groupware As A Platform For Strategic Change The rapid advances in database technologies and their ability to integrate across enterprises, creating a single system of record thatRead MoreA Cloud Supply Chain Management993 Words   |  4 Pages A Cloud Supply Chain Management approach to Small Business Small businesses are entering into a new era where older value systems and relationships are changing into digital ecosystems with emerging complex relationships. In the book, Being Digital, Nicholas Negroponte--the Director of MIT s Media Lab--introduces a simple and powerful model for describing and predicting the effects of digital technology on information exchange; he suggests that we re moving from a time where information

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Diabetes Mellitus II Free Essays

Diabetes mellitus refers to â€Å"a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. † (Mathur, 2009) This chronic medical condition occurs when the production of insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas in order to regulate the blood sugar levels, is absent or insufficient. Two major types of diabetes are 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Diabetes Mellitus II or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) type 1 diabetes which requires the affected person to be insulin-dependent as his pancreas has been damaged by auto-immune attacks, making it unable to release the hormone and 2. type 2 diabetes which is also called non-insulin diabetes mellitus as the patients who suffer from this disease can still produce their own insulin. As a matter of fact, for the latter, excessive amounts of insulin are produced by the body. This, however, damages the beta cell, the part of the pancreas that releases insulin, and causes the depletion of the production of insulin in the long run. This paper will focus on diabetes mellitus 2, the causes of this chronic disease as well as the physiological limitations that it can impose on a person’s exercise program. It will also include the symptoms that a fitness instructor must watch out for when training an individual suffering from type 2 diabetes. This information will be used to create an exercise program for a subject with this chronic disease. In this section, the intensity, frequency, duration and the method for determining how the program should progress will be identified. Any prescribed medication that may affect the person’s performance should also be considered in the creation of this program. Although diabetes mellitus II is coined adult-onset diabetes as it normally develops in adults who are forty years and above, the number of children who have been diagnosed with this disease has also increased in number. Although genetics or complications during pregnancy may play a role in the development of this disease, obesity is still identified as the major cause of this problem. An individual who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is 20% higher than the ideal has a higher chance of becoming diabetic. Other major risk factors associated with diabetes are age, family history, race, a history of previous impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), hypertension, a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and polycystic ovarian syndrome. (Votey Peters, 2009) In the past, people ages 40 and above are more prone to this disease. But, now, due to the sharp increase in the number of children with this disease, this might as well be considered as a pediatric disease. A person’s family history should also be considered when determining a person’s risk to acquire this disease. People with first degree relatives who are diabetic can have a higher chance of acquiring this disease. They may have acquired the gene that stimulates the production of a protein that inhibits the role of insulin in cellular glucose transport. A person’s ethnic group can also increase a person’s risk of acquiring this disease. Afro-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Asians have a higher chance of becoming diabetic. A person’s blood pressure and cholesterol level can also determine if he is prone to diabetes. People with a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg and above, a cholesterol level of 35 mg-dL-1 or below or a triglycerol level of 250 mg-dL-1 will have a higher risk of becoming diabetic. (McArdle, p. 452, 2007) For people with type 2 diabetes, an increase in glucose levels occur because of relative insulin deficiency or the insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas, insulin resistance or the decrease in the effects of insulin on peripheral tissues, especially muscles, or a combination of these two problems. Of course, insulin resistance, doesn’t necessarily mean that a person has diabetes. This, however, can cause diabetes in the long run, especially if the person’s diet is rich in simple carbohydrates. Because of insulin resistance, glucose is converted to triacylglycerol and is stored as fat. Since fat cells have a tendency to be insulin-resistant due to its reduced insulin receptor density, the person’s insulin resistance can reach a level that exceeds the maximum output of the pancreas. Both resistance and aerobic training can help in the management of these factors by improving insulin are glucagon responses. Since skeletal muscles consume a lot of glucose, approximately 70 to 90% of the glucose present in the body, resistance training which increases muscle mass can increase insulin sensitivity, leading to better glucose control. Endurance training, on the other hand, â€Å"maintains the blood level of insulin and glucagon during exercise closer to resting values. † (McArdle, p. 451, 2007) Ideally, the management of diabetes involves dieting, exercising and taking in the prescribed medication, if there is any. There are, however, some cases when the blood sugar level of the patient is too high and exercise needs to be put off. At the same time, although exercise can be very beneficial to diabetics, it can be counterproductive if the condition of the client is not examined properly. Before a client is given a program, the instructor must first make sure that he has his doctor’s consent. The instructor should also know if the client has the following complications: retinal hemorrhage, increased proteinuria, acceleration of microvascular lesions, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, excessive blood pressure during exercise, postexercise orthostatic hyerptension, increased hyperglycemia, increased ketosis, foot ulcers, orthopedic injury related to neuropathy and accelerated degenerative joint disease. The exercise should be adjusted based on these factors. Obese individuals, for example, should be given lesser weight-bearing exercises. At the same time, they should also be given longer rest periods in order to avoid increase in blood pressure. People with heart and blood pressure problems must not be allowed to exercise when the temperature is too high or the atmosphere is too humid. They should also be given ample rest in between sets. They should also avoid isometric exercises as well as exercises that involve raising the weight overhead or holding positions wherein the head is lower than legs. Aside from the risks caused by complications, the instructor should also pay attention to signs of hypoglycemia, especially if the client is taking in insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Mild hypoglycemia is characterized by trembling or shakiness, nervousness, palpitations, increased sweating and excessive hunger. People with moderate hypoglycemic reactions experience headaches, irritability and abrupt mood changes, impaired concentration and attentiveness, mental confusion and drowsiness. In severe cases, the individual becomes unresponsive and unconscious and experiences convulsions. For such instances, the instructor must be attentive to these symptoms so that he can react immediately. Since some patients take ß-blocker medication, hypoglycemic unawareness should be expected and it is up to the instructor to make the client stop exercising, measure his glucose level and have him eat some simple carbohydrates like hard candies and sugar cubes if hypoglycemia is confirmed. The client should then be asked to rest for ten to fifteen minutes. After that, his glucose level should once again be measured before allowing him to continue the exercise regiment. Another risk that should be avoided is late-onset hypoglycemia wherein the diabetic’s blood sugar remains low even after four to forty-eight hours has passed. This can happen if the client’s exercise is too strenuous for him. For this reason, high-intensity exercise should not be administered to a diabetic individual, especially if he has been prescribed some insulin or hypoglycemic agents. He should begin with a low-intensity program that gradually increases in intensity. Changes in intensity must be made after a period of three to six weeks so that the individual would be given enough time to adjust. According to Erikkson’s study (Janot Kravitz, 2009), doing some resistance training twice a week is enough to show results. Beginning with this frequency is also advisable as the instructor would be given the time to observe the client’s reaction to the exercise. He would also be able to clear him of late-onset hypoglycemia. The study done by Ishii and his colleagues (Janot Kravitz, 2009) shows that the range of the load given to diabetic individuals should be 40 to 50% of their 1 rep max. They should do around 2 sets of 25 repetitions. And, they should be given 30 to 120 seconds of rest in between sets. Based on the FITT principle, people with type 2 diabetes can have 3 to 5 times a week of aerobic exercise. The intensity should be 40 to 60% of the maximum HR and the duration should be around 30 to 60 minutes, unless the person is taking hypoglycemic agents or insulin. How to cite Diabetes Mellitus II, Papers

Friday, May 1, 2020

Eleanor Of Aquitaine Essay Research Paper Eleanor free essay sample

Eleanor Of Aquitaine Essay, Research Paper Eleanor of Aquitaine ( 1122-1204 ) Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine was an intelligent and emancipated adult female life in the dark in-between ages. Although it is a conventional regulation that all ladies of high rank should be described as beautiful, all beginnings agree that Eleanor of Aquitaine truly was beautiful. In add-on, she was the richest inheritress of France and became in turn Queen of France and England. Eleanor was a granddaughter of William IX of Aquitaine ( 1070-1127 ) , who was one of the first and most celebrated folk singers. He was a cheerful adult male and an fervent lover of adult females, who joined the First Crusade. Later he # 8220 ; abducted # 8221 ; the married woman of the viscount of Ch tellerault, Dangereuse, and although he could non get married her, Dangereuse managed to hold her girl Aenor married to his eldest boy William X ( 1099-1137 ) in 1121. They had two girls, Eleanor and Petronilla, and a boy, William Aigret. We will write a custom essay sample on Eleanor Of Aquitaine Essay Research Paper Eleanor or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Eleanor resembled both William IX and Dangereuse ; she possessed the same intelligence, merriment, restlessness and will power. The tribunal of William IX was the Centre of western European civilization: the ducal household was entertained by folk singers, narrators and folk singers. Unlike most of her coevalss, male and particularly female, Eleanor was carefully educated and she was an first-class pupil. Eleanor # 8217 ; s happy childhood ended with the subsequent deceases of her female parent, her small brother and # 8211 ; in 1137 # 8211 ; her male parent. The orphaned Eleanor was the richest inheritress in France therefore a matrimony was arranged for her to its King, Louis VII ( 1121-1180 ) . Louis had been brought up for an office in the church, but he had become inheritor to the Gallic throne after the decease of his senior brother. He was a weak, dull, sedate and pious adult male and he and the lively Eleanor were badly matched. Louis neer understood his immature married woman, but he appears to hold adored her with a passionate esteem. It wasn # 8217 ; t until 1145 that a girl, Marie, was born. Meanwhile, Eleanor was eager to regulate her ain dukedom, since she knew the troublesome Aquitainians better than anyone. However, Louis # 8217 ; council member, the Abbot Sugar, resented her influence in governmental affairs. When Louis went on the Second Crusade to Palestine, Eleanor raised a company of adult females to fall in her and therefore she accompanied her hubby to the Holy Land. In Antioch Eleanor was heartily received by her uncle Raymond, who reminded her of her happy childhood in Poitiers. Eleanor and Raymond were of the sentiment that Jerusalem could best be secured by driving back the Turks in the North, but Louis VII rejected the program and a wrangle followed. Softly Louis began readyings for his going and after dark Eleanor was forcibly conducted from Antioch. Soon the campaign became a complete failure and even Louis # 8217 ; brother Robert rapidly rushed place. On their manner back to France, Louis and Eleanor visited the Catholic Pope to plead for a divorce. Alternatively, the Catholic Pope tried to accommodate them and induced them to kip in the same bed once more. Back in France their matrimony was worse than of all time and Eleanor was horrified to gain that she was pregnant. After the birth of a 2nd girl in 1150 and the decease of Louis # 8217 ; main curate, Eleanor was no longer the lone 1 who wanted a divorce. She eventually got it in 1152. She was still the richest inheritress of France an vitamin D on her manner from Paris to Poitiers she had to overreach two manque seducers. By so Eleanor had fallen in love with Duke Henry Plantagenet of Normandy ( 1133-1189 ) , who was her junior by 11 old ages. Their matrimony, hardly 8 hebdomads after her divorce, made Henry maestro of most of today’s France. With Eleanor’s support Henry became King of England excessively in 1154. Although Eleanor # 8217 ; s first matrimony had resulted in merely two girls born in 15 twelvemonth, Eleanor bore Henry five boies and three girls. As the kids grew up and Henry openly took kept womans, the twosome grew apart. Eleanor was 44 old ages old, when she gave birth to their youngest boy, John Lackland. By so she had discovered the being of Rosamund Clifford, the most celebrated of Henry # 8217 ; s kept womans. Later Henry arranged a bride-to-be for his homosexual boy Richard Lionheart. She was a girl of Louis VII and his 2nd married woman. While she was educated at the English tribunal, her bride-to-be ignored her and his male parent, Henry, seduced her. In 1169 Henry sent Eleanor to Aquitaine to reconstruct order as its duchess. Once more the ducal castle at Poitiers became the Centre of all that was civilised and refined. Troubadours, instrumentalists and bookmans were welcomed at Poitiers. There, in 1170 Eleanor reconciled with her first born girl Marie of France, countess of Champagne. Marie # 8217 ; s prot g, Chr tien de Troyes, composed, at Marie # 8217 ; s suggestion, the love affair of Lancelot and Queen Guinevere. In add-on, Marie had a # 8220 ; codification of love # 8221 ; written down in 31 articles. They described feminist thoughts far beyond the twelfth century cult of gallantry. In add-on, Eleanor sponsored the # 8220 ; tribunals of love # 8221 ; in which work forces holding jobs with the codification of love could convey their inquiries before a court of ladies for opinion. At Christmas 1172 Henry summoned his married woman and boies to his tribunal. When in 1173 their boies revolted against their male parent, E leanor backed them and was later imprisoned by Henry until his decease in 1189. By so three of their boies had already died and Henry # 8217 ; s replacement was Eleanor # 8217 ; s favorite boy, Richard I Lionheart ( 1157-1199 ) , who appreciated his female parent # 8217 ; s advice. When he went on campaign, Eleanor became regent. Although Richard was a homosexual, he was supposed to supply England with inheritors, so Eleanor escorted his bride-to-be to Sicily. When Richard was killed in 1199, he was succeeded by his youngest brother, John Lackland ( 1166-1216 ) . Eleanor returned to Aquitaine and retired in the abbey of Fontevraud. She remained busy and active and personally arranged a the matrimony of her Castilian granddaughter to the grandson of Louis VII. Thus she lived to be approximately 82, an extraordinary age in the in-between ages. Bibliography + Hallam, E. ( ed. ) : The Plantagenet Encyclopedia ( An alphabetical usher to 400 old ages of English history ) , Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1990 + Kelly, A. : Eleanor of Aquitaine ( and the four Kings ) , Harvard University Press, 1951 + Lofts, N. : Queens of Britain, Hodder and Stoughton, 1977 + Meade, M. : Eleanor of Aquitaine ( A life ) , Penguin Books, 1977 + Owen, D.D.R. : Eleanor of Aquitaine ( Queen and fable ) , Blackwell, 1993 Novels + Plaidy, J. : Courts of Love, Fontana/Collins, 1989 + Lofts, N. : Eleanor the Queen, Fawcett Crest, 1955

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Media Global Issues free essay sample

In that case, he or she will notify both the Examination Board and the student of this decision in writing. If the student should Thesis Regulations Media Studies: stipulations for writing, supervising and evaluating MA- theses Version 01-02-2012? p. 2 wish to reapply for supervision, he or she will need to submit a written request to this effect to the Examination Board. 8. With regard to the application for thesis supervision, the student is obliged to observe the regulations as laid out in the Thesis Guidelines of the department. 9. In exceptional cases, and at the request of the student, theExamination Board, or the Masters coordinator acting as its delegate, may appoint a person from outside of the Department as supervisor. 10. The student will write a research proposal, in the form of a work outline, in consultation with the supervisor. The outline should be drawn up in accordance with the sample for a work outline that appears in Appendix 1, and is subject to the supervisors approval. We will write a custom essay sample on Media Global Issues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1 1 . At the onset of supervision, the thesis coordinator, in consultation with the supervisor and student, will appoint a second reader to act as second examiner of the thesis on behalf of he Examination Board. The second reader is not accountable to the student but is accountable to the supervisor and the Board. The intention is not for the second reader to assume part of the supervisors duties. The second reader may request to see the working outline, but will only be handed the final version of the thesis, approved for evaluation by the supervisor, for speculation (see article 16). 12. The student and the supervisor should agree at an early stage on a deadline for submitting the thesis once the working plan has been approved. The thesis must be completed within one year of the application.If the student fails to submit the thesis within the time limit, without giving valid reasons and/or prior notice and without consulting the supervisor, the Examination Board may, in response to a proposal by the supervisor, prohibit the student from submitting the thesis for a period of up to three months, to be decided by the Board. A new application for supervision will normally have to be made. 13. The following moments of contact between student and supervisor are essential: a. An introductory discussion of the choice and demarcation of the topic, the literature, the approach, consultation Of experts etc. B. Discussion Of the work outline and how the thesis is to be written; c. A discussion of one or more drafts of the thesis, in the form of a few pages or a chapter/various chapters; d. The student and the supervisor may schedule additional discussions if they wish. The student may be required by the supervisor to write a brief report after each discussion of the thesis. One or more of these reports may also be sent to the second reader as notification, if appropriate, so as to avoid misunderstandings about what has been agreed to and to monitor the students progress; e. Discussion of the final version of the thesis, during which the student is informed of the motivation for the proposed final grade. Evaluation 14. The thesis should be submitted for evaluation in duplicate. One copy is for the supervisor, one for the second reader. Since March 1st, 2008, the submission of a digital version of the final thesis, on CD or DVD, to the programmer administration is another requirement. 15. A thesis that has been submitted in a timely fashion will be examined and graded within four weeks.In exceptional cases, this time limit may be extended by the Examination Board at the request of the supervisor or the second reader. In such a case, the student concerned will be notified of this, and Of the reasons regarding the extension, in writing, and before the expiration of the regular time limit. Thesis Regulations Media Studies: stipulations for writing, supervising and evaluating MA- theses Version 01-02-2012- p. 3 16. The second reader will compile a reading report (comprising h 1 AY page) of the final version of the thesis. On the basis of this report, he or she will propose a final grade.Both the report and the proposed grade are then submitted to the supervisor. Upon request by the supervisor, the report may also be sent to the student. In the event of diverging opinions on the final grade, the supervisor and second reader will try to reach a compromise. If there are concerns, or if the estimations of the grade differ by more than one point, the thesis shall be submitted for marking to the thesis coordinator, acting as the Examination Boards delegate. If agreement cannot be reached, the case shall be presented to the Examination Board for adjudication. 17.The thesis will be evaluated in accordance with the standard criteria for the grading of theses as set out in Appendix 3. The grade shall be determined on he basis of the following criteria (as it nears the latter condition, the grade increases): descriptive and (at least) complying with scientific standards; more than just descriptive, a lucid and critical account with original ideas, analyses and interpretation; unquestionable development of the subject and the theory; of publishable standard. The grade will also reflect the whole process involved in developing and writing the thesis.Reconsideration 18. If the grade allotted to the student is insufficient in meeting the thesis requirements, the student will be given the opportunity in the next semester/academic year to improve the thesis or complete an additional assignment. This opportunity will only be provided once, and if this revised or augmented thesis is not submitted within the set time limit, it will once again be rega rded as having failed to meet the requirements. Improving the final version has consequences for the examination date, the graduation date and also for the registration for the programmer of the student. 9. A thesis that, following revision, does not meet the requirements will have to be replaced with an entirely new thesis. The Examination Board, in response to a proposal by the previous, may decree that the new thesis be based on an assignment. Appeals 20. The student may appeal the grade awarded his or her thesis with the Examination Board. An appeal against the thesis grade may also be lodged with the Examination Appeals Board. The Study Adviser may be approached for further information on this. Publicity 21 .

Thursday, March 5, 2020

10 Easy Ways of Helping Turtles Survive

10 Easy Ways of Helping Turtles Survive Sea turtles have lived on Earth for about 110 million years. However, due to human activity, 6 of the 7 sea turtle species- green, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, flatback, hawksbill, and leatherback- are now classified as endangered. The seventh species, the loggerhead, is classified as threatened (likely to become an endangered species in the near future). Organizations Dedicated to Helping Sea Turtles Contact the following organizations to donate, volunteer, and learn more about ways to help the sea turtles:Sea Turtle ConservancySEE TurtlesTurtle Island Restoration NetworkThe Ocean FoundationOceanic Society How to Help Sea Turtles Survive According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, sea turtles face threats from overharvesting and poaching, global warming, ocean pollution, and the encroachment of human activity on their nesting sites. Although targeting these problems may seem like an overwhelming task, there are specific actions you can take to ensure the survival of sea turtles. Baby hawksbill turtle after being rescued. Jereme Thaxton/Getty Images Source Your Seafood Responsibly Sea turtles often become the bycatch of irresponsible fishing methods. Educate yourself on how your seafood was caught and support organizations that advocate for the sustainable catching of seafood. The Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch website and app allow you to look up specific types of seafood and determine if they were responsibly sourced. In addition, organizations like Too Rare to Wear also have information on products that have been made from turtle shells, like jewelry and souvenirs, which are often sold to tourists in tropical regions. Get Rid of Pollution Sailors from the USS Thorn use bolt cutters and knives to free the only surviving sea turtle in a group of four found tangled in some long-ago discarded netting, July 10, 2001 in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy / Getty Images Help make beaches safe for turtles and other marine animals by participating in cleanups to help remove trash from the beach. Doing so will also stop more trash from entering the oceans, reducing the chances that a turtle may become trapped or eat it. Many local groups organize such cleanups year-round, or you can organize a beach clean-up day with some friends. Cleaning up the beach may also help make that locations habitable for turtles again. After a 2-year beach cleanup in Miami that removed over 11 million pounds of trash from the environment, olive ridley turtle hatchlings were spotted making their way from the nest to the ocean, which had not occurred in decades. Previously, the turtles had been able to lay eggs on the beach but could not maneuver in the trash. Replace Disposable Plastic With Reusable Items Plastic bag at sea. These can be dangerous to sea turtles who mistake them for food, such as jellyfish. _548901005677/Moment Open/Getty Images You can help prevent trash from ever entering the ocean in the first place by recycling and reducing the amount of trash that you create. For some items, consider using their reusable counterparts, like shopping bags and water bottles to reduce your chances of polluting the beach. Plastic bags are especially troublesome, as sea turtles can mistake them for their favorite snack: jellyfish. You can also avoid other single-use items, like balloons during a birthday beach bash, which will likely end up in the ocean where they will be eaten by turtles and other wildlife. Keep Beaches Dark at Night WWF volunteers coax released baby green turtles that were found at a nest site the day before, to the waters edge with lights at Acyatan Beach on August 23, 2018 in Adana, Turkey. Chris McGrath / Getty Images Nesting turtles and hatchlings use the moons natural lighting as a guide. Instinctively, they follow the brightest direction to find their way to the water, but if they are disoriented by artificial lighting, they may wander inland and die of dehydration or predation. Avoid all forms of artificial light while at the beach at night, including flashlights, flash photography, video cameras, and fires on nesting beaches. If you do need lighting, try to avoid directly illuminating the beach, using a shade to minimize the amount of light shining in the area. If staying at a beachfront property, be sure to turn off all lights at night. If you do see disoriented baby turtles at night, do not take it upon yourself to move the turtles. Contact a nature conservancy organization or local authorities. Be Careful When Boating and Fishing A moving boat can seriously injure or kill a turtle, so stay alert if you are boating in the ocean. If you spot sea turtles in the water, stay at least 50 yards away. If they are close to your boat, put your engine on neutral or turn it off until the turtles swim away. Change your fishing location if you spot sea turtles nearby or they show interest in your bait. And remember to collect all of your fishing gear and supplies once youre done, especially fishing line, hooks, and nets. Don’t Disturb the Turtles An NPS volunteer helps Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings reach the water at South Padre Island National Seashore. Who knew volunteering could be so adorable?.  © qnr via Flickr Never pick up a hatchling. Though it may be tempting, doing so may frighten or disorient them. If you do want to watch one, attend a sea turtle watch hosted by an organization, which would allow you to observe the sea turtles without disturbing them. Do not catch a baby turtle in an aquarium or bucket of water. This will use up the energy they need to swim to the ocean after they emerge from their nest. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Global warming can skew the gender ratios of sea turtles, as well as the distribution of predators and prey. Although climate change might seem like too big an issue to tackle, there are many steps you can personally take to reduce global warming. Adopt a Sea Turtle Support sea turtle conservation efforts by â€Å"adopting a sea turtle† or making a donation to a wildlife conservation program that monitors and helps satellite-tracked turtles. You can also â€Å"adopt a nest† during nesting season. Avoid Beach Activities at Night Try to avoid walking on the beach at night during the summer, as this may frighten nesting turtles back into the sea. To help make it easier for turtles to navigate the beach, you can also remove beach furniture and other equipment from the beach before the nighttime, as turtles may become caught in them or become disoriented. Help Spread Awareness There are many ways you can help make a positive change for sea turtles. One main way is through education. You can help educate your local neighborhood or school by giving presentations, and tell people about the cause during conversations. Sources â€Å"Adoption Programs.† Seaturtle.org, Seaturtle.org, www.seaturtle.org/adopt/.â€Å"Endangered Ocean: Sea Turtles.† Ocean Today, National Ocean Service, oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceanseaturtles/.â€Å"Information About Sea Turtles, Their Habitats and Threats to Their Survival.† Conserveturtles.org, Sea Turtle Conservancy, conserveturtles.org/information-about-sea-turtles-their-habitats-and-threats-to-their-survival/.â€Å"Ways to Help.† Ways to Help the Sea Turtles, Nova Southeastern University, cnso.nova.edu/seaturtles/ways-to-help.html.â€Å"What Can You Do to Save Sea Turtles?† NOAA Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 6 June 2016, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/what-can-you-do-save-sea-turtles.â€Å"What Is the Difference Between Endangered and Threatened?† Wolf - Western Great Lakes, U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, Mar. 2003, www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/esastatus/e-vs-t.htm.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Ethics, professionalism and contemporary Issues Essay

Ethics, professionalism and contemporary Issues - Essay Example This makes them easy targets to forced labour and prostitution; the main countries in which this vice of human trafficking is rampant includes India, Mexico, El Salvador and Philippines. There is an estimated ten thousand forced labourers in the U.S. prostitution, poverty; globalization and government corruption are some of the major factors that contribute to the high numbers in human trafficking. Several laws have been passed to try and curb human trafficking and under the U.S code human trafficking is termed as a federal crime. Technology, which generally covers; mobile devices, internet and social media has been instrumental in human trafficking, it has played both a negative and a positive role. The beauty of technology is that it provides better visibility and can help in tracing of people who are involved in human trafficking (Hart 5). Technology has contributed to human trafficking by making it easier for the criminals to advertise and sell their victims. When one searches in the internet, it is very easy to find underage victims who are exploited for sex under online classifieds. In the pornography websites, one will find a section for teen prostitutes; it is then made easier for both parties, the one advertising and the one looking for services to communicate using mobile phones. Social networking sites are also another venue for advertising for victims of human trafficking because it is very easy to reach a large number of people. Technology has also made it easy to search for and purchase victims. Using the internet to find and locate people has never been easier (Davidson and Gottschalk 98). Once the contacts needed have been found, they then proceed to use the other types of technology such as instant messaging, emails and so forth to reach the people concerned. On the other hand, technology has made it simple to track the criminals involved in human trafficking, as it is possible to trace the individuals concerned by following the activities they have been doing online. Moreover, tracing their phone calls, messages and emails, and past data on the activities they had been involved with can also be traced using technology (Dunn 14). A new online role playing game has been created that allows the players to upload real pictures of them and also hold dialogue. The game has become very popular among online players, but this has also brought new challenges with it, as the game can be used to promote human trafficking. This is because it easy to identify a person through the picture they have put and request for a personal meeting with another player through dialogue. As the designer of the game, there are moral obligations that one has to uphold, but that does not mean that they do not come at a price. The designer has to make a choice that he or she understands can lead to the collapse of his online game while combating the challenge of human trafficking possibility or choose to ignore the problem at hand. One would argue that the game by itself does not influence the decisions one makes it only promotes their thoughts and behavioural patterns, and therefore, the designer should not respond to the concerns that come up. For a criminal who decided to use the game to target his victims is merely using the game for the wrong reasons as that is not what it was meant for, and it would be highly unfair to ask the designer of t

Monday, February 3, 2020

Journal Article Review Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal Article Review Assignment - Essay Example Alcohol abuse or dependence emerged in the investigation, which in particular has significant relation to the occurrence of crime such as actual suicide and suicide attempts. Suicide attempts, as crime-related scenarios were remarkable in various geographical contexts, but there is no significant amount of studies trying to investigate the actual contribution of alcohol use disorder on the prevalence of suicide attempt. In the chosen study, the proponents have remarkably investigated this concern by employing older adults who were hospitalized in connection with a suicide attempt. In order to further understand this claim, the proponents investigated further the suicidal behaviors of respondents with suicidal attempting experience even if they have AUD or not. This is to remarkably create a link to a significant gap in the literature concerning this issue. The specific individuals included in the study were 70 years or older, who were having hospital treatment due to suicide attempt during 2003-2006. Out of the 133 eligible participants, 103 of them were enrolled in the study, which comprised the 47 men, 56 women, and both groups with average age of 80 years and a response rate of 77%. Random sampling technique was employed. Statistical analysis involved was correlation, because the proponents were after of finding the actual level association between the variables. In order to implement this, the case comparison was initiated. â€Å"AUD was observed in 26% of the cases and in 4% of the comparison group (odds ratio [OR]: 10.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.9–22.5). Associations were noted in men (OR: 9.5; 95% CI: 4.0–22.8) and women (OR: 12.0; 95% CI: 2.4–59.5). More than half of the cases with AUD and  a third of those without AUD had made at least one prior suicide attempt. In these, AUD was associated with a longer interval

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development

Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development An Explotary Study On The Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development and Its Further Growth Potential In Context of Bangladesh Abstract This research paper investigates whether the role of capital market is significant for the economic development of Bangladesh. Literature suggests that well developed stock market can provide an extra impetus to economic activity. Similar conclusions were also drawn from the in-depth interviews. This paper also reveals a well-scanned scenario of the capital market highlighting its setbacks, current weakness, recent improvements and its prospective signs of development through which we can foresee whether the capital market has further growth potential or not. Thus the present study can also contribute in providing essential information that can also be used for further research. Abbreviations ADB- Asian Development Bank CDBL- Central Depository of Bangladesh Limited CDS- Central Depository System CSE- Chittagong Stock Exchange DGEN- DSE general index DSE- Dhaka Stock Exchange GDP- gross domestic product IPO- initial public offering SEC- Security and Exchange Commission 1.0 Introduction The financial market contributes to the economic growth and development by providing the needed finance for provision of goods and services. The financial market consists of two division- money market and capital market. The money market is basically entitled to supply finance on short-term basis to individuals, businesses, enterprises, government and their agencies. The capital market, on the other hand, provides finance on medium to long-term basis to corporate bodies, government and their agencies (Al-Faki, 2006). Capital Market plays a crucial role in any modern economy as they allow investors’ fund to flow to the most promising opportunities, i.e., the funds are mobilized and channeled efficiently from savers to the users of funds (Al-Faki, 2006; DSE, 2006; Hubbard and Thornton, 2006; Ahmed, 1997). In Bangladesh financial intermediation relies mostly on the banking sector which further resulted in lack of equity financing (Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007; Islam and Hassan 2002). Furthermore out of 5 million urban-based middle class people only four hundred thousand are participating in the securities market and among them roughly hundred thousand are active investors. A large portion is still ignorant of the nature and benefits of the capital market (Abu Ahmed, 2006; DSE Review, 2006; Islam and Hassan, 2002). Developing more complete and deeper capital market would enhance a countries growth potential and innovation (Andritzky, 2007). The forces of globalization, technology, new forms of competition have noticeably transformed capital market worldwide (Hassan, 2004). The chief advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed stated that â€Å"Only a vibrant and well-regulated capital market can bring sustainable economic development in the country through making the real sector capable of meeting the challenges of the competitive global economic realities† ( DSE Monthly Review, June 2007). Regardless of recent improvements, Bangladesh’s capital market remains underdeveloped as its size is still very small in terms of market cap (ADB, 2006; Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007; Islam and Hassan 2002). The market cap represents just above 9% of the GDP (Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed retrieved from DSE Review). As Bangladesh capital market is still quite small compared to other regional market and to the size of its economy (CSE, 2006) despite its existence for a long time, this paper applies a framework for analyzing the significance of capital market for economic growth and development of Bangladesh, identifying its growth potentials through exploration. 2.0 Problem Statement Bangladesh’s capital market is still underdeveloped, in spite of recent improvements. The size of the country’s capital market is quite small mainly due to the excessive dependence of leading corporate entities on the banks for financing. Moreover the overall transparency of market transaction is also low compared to international standards and generally there has been slow development of the underlying market infrastructure. The government is making effort to develop the reliability and efficiency of stock exchanges as investment market. Compared to the other neighboring countries the numbers of participants are much smaller in Bangladesh as investor lack confidence. There is a supply side constrains in the capital market as quality shares are lacking. For all this reason this research is done to explore the importance of capital market in the economy and what are the prospective sign of development of the stock market. 3.0 Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to explore a well scanned scenario of Bangladesh capital market, its significance and its prospects. Although some research has been conducted relating to this topic but there is little empirical evidence about how essential stock market is to economic development of a country. A sound capital market prompts better economic base and influence its future growth and so it can help realize Bangladesh’s growth potential. The capital market of Bangladesh is on the brink to play its due role as a medium for financing investment and thereby making a notable contribution to economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation. The capital market plays an important role in quickening the pace of economic development but the existing state of the capital market is under-developed and not in a position to ensure economic progress of the country. Hence this research will try to highlight the significance of capital market for the nation and explore what are the probable signs of progress. 4.0 Research Timeline 2007 SeptemberWriting Research Proposal 2007 SeptemberDeveloping Literature Review 2007 OctoberCollecting Data 2007 October- NovemberData Analysis and Interpretation of the Findings 2007 NovemberPreparing Draft and Finalizing the Research Paper 2007 DecemberSubmission of Research Paper 5.0 Limitations of the study During conducting the research I came across certain limitations and among them the foremost one is time constrain. Although I got the opportunity to work in an organization that is capital market based but it was difficult to find spare time that could be used for the report. Moreover the interviewed person could not provide all necessary information due to lack of time. The research timeline also reveals that time constrain was actually a barrier as there was plenty to find about this research topic. As the research is conducted for the first time, I did not get much support from previous research paper and further research is suggested. A huge portion of the report is based on secondary data collected through websites and so the depth of reliability varies as by the nature of website. 6.0 Review of the Literature 6.1 Financial Intermediation According to Joseph Yam (2004) financial intermediation is channeling savings into investments. Aziz and Duenwald (2002) referred that financial intermediation affects growth through the following channels – (i) it can increase the marginal productivity of capital by collecting information to evaluate alternative investment projects and by risk sharing (ii) it can raise the proportion of savings channeled to investment through financial development. According to Conning and Kevane (2002) â€Å"intermediation implies an intermediary†. Gorton and Winton (2002) added that â€Å"it is the root institution in the saving investment process†. They referred that financial intermediaries are firms that borrow from those who have excess money, that is, the savers and lend the money to companies that need resources for investment. 6.2 Performance Indicators According to R. N. Agarwal (2000) the most commonly used standard to measure the size of a country’s stock market is market capitalization ratio, that is, the ratio of market value of stocks which are currently listed on a bourse to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A small ratio of capitalization to GDP reveals the small size of a stock market. Alternatively, the size can be measured by the number of listed companies on a stock market. The height of maturity of an economy’s financial system is essential for economic development. Bekeart et al., (2007), Hubard and Thornton (2006), Rosul (2002) all investigated the significance and relation of stock market development with the economic growth and their conclusion suggests that capital market development is positively correlated with long term economic growth and the capital market plays an important role in the economic development of any country. The size of the equity capital market has an optimistic effect on economic growth of the country, that is, much higher market cap and turnover has a major positive influence on the economy (Institute for Advanced Studies, IHS, 2006). It is seen that the ratio of market cap to GDP in neighboring countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is relatively much higher, that is, more than 60% of their GDP (DSE, Kh. Asadul Islam, 2007; Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed,2007). In Bangladesh the market cap is very small proportion of the countries GDP (Islam Hassan, 2002) and this is due to significant dependence on the banking sector (DSE Review, Fakhruddin Ahmed, June 2007). Market capitalization as a share of GDP was around 2.5%-3.3% during 2001-2003 compared with 1.4-10.1% during 1993-1996 and 2- 4% during 1997-2000. However in the year 2004 market cap reached 6.8% reflecting the rise in the DSE index from 968 to 1,971 at the end of 2003 and 2004 respectively (ADB, May 2005). The trend of market cap as percentage of GDP and other capital market indicators of DSE and CSE are shown through the help of statistical data represented in the discussion section in Table 1. Despite the existence of the bourse from 1954, the capital market still exhibits features of an emerging equity market (Islam Hassan, 2002). The finance sector is immensely bank-based (Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007) as resource mobilization for industrialization and economic development is made primarily through the regular banking system (Islam Hassan, 2002). Borrowing requires fixed payments and over-reliance on banks can cause credit default risk. According to (Mochammad Rosul, 2002) excessive reliance on bank borrowing results in a mismatch with long-term investments being financed with short-term bank loans. He added that such a risky situation can further contribute to the economic crisis and so the job of the principal fund supplier for business should be transferred from banking sector to the capital sector. 6.3 Regulatory Bodies 6.3.1. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) exercises power under the Security and Exchange Commission Act 1993 and established on June 8, 1993. SEC, the sole Capital Market Watchdog and Regulator, has been pursuing a vigorous capital market development process including amendments of its existing regulations, conduction of investor awareness programs, rigid monitoring and surveillance to bring in transparency in the trading mechanism (SEC, Annual Report 2003 -04). The responsibility of SEC includes the following: Regulating the functions of Stock Exchanges Registering and regulating the business of stock brokers, sub broker, share transfer agents, underwriters, registrar, portfolio managers, investment advisors, and other middlemen related to security dealings. Registering, controlling, and monitoring of all types of mutual funds Controlling and monitoring of all authorized self regulatory organizations Prohibiting fraudulent and unfair practices related to securities Promoting investor’s education program and providing training of intermediaries Regulating substantial acquisition of shares and takeover of companies SEC are detects market manipulation and also keeps constant vigil on the activities of stock exchanges to ensure effectiveness of the surveillance system. Conducts research and publishes information for above purposes (Source: Security Exchange Commission Website: www.secbd.com) 6.3.2 Stock Exchanges 6.3.2.1 Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) On April 28, 1954 DSE was first incorporated as the East Pakistan Stock Exchange Association Limited. Formal trading began in 1956 with 196 securities listed on the DSE with a total paid up capital of about Taka 4 billion. On June 23, 1962 it was renamed as Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Limited. After 1971, the trading activities of the prime bourse remained suppresses until 1976 due to liberation war and economic policy pursued by the then government. Trading resumed at DSE in 1976 with only 9 companies listed having a paid up of Taka 137.52 million (Bashar et al., 2000; M Farid Ahmed, 1997). As of today there are 342 listed companies in the prime bourse with market cap exceeding 700,000 million (DSE, 2007). The reforms that DSE undertook recently for ensuring professionalism and transparency focused on the trading of securities. The measure were taken to implement transparent trading system, efficient reporting of trade, real time delivery of information, strong surveillance and monitoring over trade of securities and settlement of shares (Rahman,Uddin and Malik, 2006). 6.3.2.2 The Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited (CSE) The CSE is the countries second bourse that started its operation from the year 1995. It is also a self-regulatory non profit organization. Currently the numbers of listed securities are 223 of which the number of listed companies are 208, mutual funds 14, and one debenture. 6.4 Recent Capital Market Scenario of Bangladesh According to Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed (DSE, 2007) political uncertainty, corruption and lack of transparency in all section of the social and economic fabric are some of the reasons for capital market deficiency. Bangladesh Governor Salehuddin Ahmed (2007) reveals that foremost problems include political instability, under developed infrastructure, poor port management, short comings in legal system and corruption (Financial Express Report). On the other hand DSE general share price index reached its pinnacle and crossed 3000 points (Newage: www.newagebd.com). In fact the capital market witnessed a robust growth in the current year. Both turnover and market cap crossed new milestones at Tk 3000 million and Tk 700,000 million respectively during the year (DSE, 2006; DSE, 2007, IDLCSL). Recently our market cap crossed USD 10 billion that accounts for only 13% of its GDP which was only 8% a year back. (DSE Monthly Review, Oct 2007). Though the contribution of capital market to GDP is still inadequate when compared to neighboring countries but still its increase is significant for the development of our economy. Comparison of indices and market cap among different countries is shown in Table 2 and Figure 2 in the discussion part. Entry of 12 new issues worth Tk 11,322.95 million helped raise the market cap. Some of the reason for the progress in capital market development is central depository system and the automated trading system (ADB, 2006; SEC, 2005). The DSE has upgraded its automated online trading system and investors are able to trade from different parts of the country (SEC Quarterly Report, April-June 2007; ADB, 2006). Another reason for the vigorous improvement of the equity capital market is due to strenuous efforts taken by the SEC that further boosted investors’ confidence (DSE, 2007). 7.0 Research Methodology 7.1 Research Design The present study endeavored to explore importance of capital market for the economic development of Bangladesh and its future prospects. Exploratory research is selected as research design as little information exists about the capital market of Bangladesh. The aim of exploratory research is mainly to gain enough information before doing more thorough research. We basically start by gathering as much information about the object as possible and with a vague impression of what we should study (Cooper Schindler, 2003). 7.2 Research Instrument The research was conducted using both primary and secondary data. For collecting secondary data, various books, websites, newspapers, annual reports, monthly reviews and significant articles were chosen. Also for collection of primary data in-depth interviews with a range of designated professional, related to this field, were taken. 7.3 Data Collection Secondary data used in the paper has been collected through access of different source of books, journals, publications of DSE, SEC, ADB and other news paper and articles. The DSE and SEC library were visited to acquire secondary information. Various websites were browsed to collect relevant articles that are circulated on online sites. For collecting primary data, in-depth interviews of experienced people related to this field of capital market were taken. Appointments were fixed initially and then the interviews were taken. The interviewed persons are Kh. Asadul Islam, CEO, IDLC Securities Limited (IDLCSL); Anwarul Kabir Bhuiyan, SEC, Executive Director; Tania Sharmin, SEC, Assistance Director (Surveillance); Abul Ehsan, Senior Officer, IDLC Finance Limited; Moumita Manzoor, Research Associate, IDLCSL. Each of them was interviewed for 40 minutes approximately during the office hour while taking break from work. They were asked some essential questions associated to this research topic. Some of the questions that were asked are as follows- What is the role of capital market in the economy? What are the setbacks of the stock market in Bangladesh? Explain the current scenario of the capital market What are the prospective sign of the development of the capital market? How can we be sure of a sound growth of capital market in Bangladesh? Do you see a better or worse scenario ahead of us and why? 8.0 Discussion 8.1 Role of Capital Market in the Economy According to Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam (2006) capital market can play an essential role in enhancing economic development through efficient intermediation of savings into productive investments and in encouraging the expansion of private entrepreneurship (DSE, 2006). The primary market can contribute to the growth of private entrepreneurship by facilitating the entrepreneurs to raise funds from surplus savers and consequently finance investment in a cost-effective manner. For instance, if an industrialist with a viable new investment or expansion proposal is unable to execute his plan due to financial crisis then he can issue securities to meet the required deficit. Moreover issuing shares have the additional advantage that they do not create fixed charges for the companies issuing them and hence endows a better option than, say, financing through bank loans. A proficient and vibrant secondary market can also contribute copiously to economic growth. If a company, for instance, is well-managed and the secondary market prices are higher than face value, subsequent rights issue can obtain premium. Therefore the company can finance its development plan in lucrative and cost-effective approach. So the capital market not only provides opportunity for companies to borrow funds needed for long term investment purposes but also provides avenue for the marketing of shares and other securities in order to raise fresh funds for expansion of operations, leading to increase in output or productivity. The equity market offers opportunity for government to finance projects aimed at providing essential amenities for socio-economic development. Such market encourages inflow of foreign capital when foreign companies or investors invest in domestic securities. The securities market can help attain higher productivity by restructuring of ownership and management of the company as secondary market provides an exit option for the original founders and it also creates an avenue for the populace to participate in the corporate sector of the economy and share in its wealth through ownership of securities. So it not only reduces the over-reliance of the corporate sector on short term finance for long term projects but truly makes available the needed money for venture capital development which could serve as a vehicle for industrial development. So through its allocating mechanism, the capital market ensures an efficient and effective distribution of scarce financial resources for the optimal benefit to the economy. 8.2 Major Setbacks of the Capital Market Investment in capital market is limited to a small proportion of the population. Investors’ confidence in the capital market has not entirely recovered since the stock market crash in 1996. Share market debacle in 1996 was mainly the result of market manipulation by a section of stockbrokers in collaboration with some other market participants (SEC, 1997). Some of the other notable reasons behind the stock market crash includes insider-trading and off-loading of shares by directors of the company, absence of circuit breaker in the securities market, disclosure of unregulated rumors and sensitive information, lack of attention given by investors to the relation between stock price and company fundamentals, weak regulatory body to name a few. The diagram below shows clearly the catastrophe that took place during 1996. Figure 1 DSE General Price Index (DGEN) 1993-2007 (Source: IDLCSL) On November, 2001 the DSE introduced the benchmark price barometer DSE General Index (DGEN) with a base index of 817.62 points. The index excludes companies of Z category and is calculated on the basis of price movement of individual stocks. Figure 1 displays the monthly DSE general index from the year January 1993 to November 2007, the latest month for which the data was available. From the diagram we can tell that the market behaved irrationally during the year 1996. The DSE all share price index rose from 832 in 1 January 1996 to 3567 in 14 November of the same year, i.e. DGEN rose from 1106 to 4738.83. This conspicuous rise in DSI was followed by a drastic fall to 2261.47 points in the last week of December 1996 and again to 1140.65 points on April 1997. The market was dreary for a long period of time after the 1996 collapse but between July 20003 and June 2005, DGEN more than doubled from 823 to 1727. It appears that the index is performing modestly in the current year followed by an uptrend as it shows an increase in the index from 1527.29 in November 2006 to 3011.60 in November 2007, reaching its pinnacle after 1996. The devastating history of 96 crashes still persists in the mind of potential investors but without mass participation the market cannot sustain in the long-run. Also it needs to bring back the foreign investors that fled in the 1996 debacle. Inflows of foreign direct investment need to be restored to stabilize the economy. From the statistical data below in Table 1 it can be observed that foreign investors are least attracted to the securities market of Bangladesh. There were significant foreign investment inflows into equities in the year 1994 amounting to $ 106 million but by the mid 1997, most of the foreign portfolio investors had divested holdings and have not since returned. The following table contains the key capital market indicators reflecting that the pace of primary market development had been fluctuating and the market’s contribution to resource mobilization of the economy remains below potential and the secondary market remained stagnant during 1997-2003 but showed some sign of recovery in 2004. Overall, investor confidence has not yet fully recovered. Table 1 Capital Market Indicators- Dhaka Stock Exchange Item 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 No of Listed Companies 143 157 183 186 202 208 213 223 231 242 248 337 Market Cap In taka (mn) 18099 41771 56518 168106 71302 50254 44789 62932 63777 71269 97587 224923 In $ (mn) 455 1038 1409 3960 1569 1036 881 1169 1119 1229 1685 3709 Market Cap as % of GDP 1.44 3.08 3.71 10.11 3.95 2.51 2.04 2.65 2.52 2.61 3.25 6.76 Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development An Explotary Study On The Significance of Capital Market for Economic Development and Its Further Growth Potential In Context of Bangladesh Abstract This research paper investigates whether the role of capital market is significant for the economic development of Bangladesh. Literature suggests that well developed stock market can provide an extra impetus to economic activity. Similar conclusions were also drawn from the in-depth interviews. This paper also reveals a well-scanned scenario of the capital market highlighting its setbacks, current weakness, recent improvements and its prospective signs of development through which we can foresee whether the capital market has further growth potential or not. Thus the present study can also contribute in providing essential information that can also be used for further research. Abbreviations ADB- Asian Development Bank CDBL- Central Depository of Bangladesh Limited CDS- Central Depository System CSE- Chittagong Stock Exchange DGEN- DSE general index DSE- Dhaka Stock Exchange GDP- gross domestic product IPO- initial public offering SEC- Security and Exchange Commission 1.0 Introduction The financial market contributes to the economic growth and development by providing the needed finance for provision of goods and services. The financial market consists of two division- money market and capital market. The money market is basically entitled to supply finance on short-term basis to individuals, businesses, enterprises, government and their agencies. The capital market, on the other hand, provides finance on medium to long-term basis to corporate bodies, government and their agencies (Al-Faki, 2006). Capital Market plays a crucial role in any modern economy as they allow investors’ fund to flow to the most promising opportunities, i.e., the funds are mobilized and channeled efficiently from savers to the users of funds (Al-Faki, 2006; DSE, 2006; Hubbard and Thornton, 2006; Ahmed, 1997). In Bangladesh financial intermediation relies mostly on the banking sector which further resulted in lack of equity financing (Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007; Islam and Hassan 2002). Furthermore out of 5 million urban-based middle class people only four hundred thousand are participating in the securities market and among them roughly hundred thousand are active investors. A large portion is still ignorant of the nature and benefits of the capital market (Abu Ahmed, 2006; DSE Review, 2006; Islam and Hassan, 2002). Developing more complete and deeper capital market would enhance a countries growth potential and innovation (Andritzky, 2007). The forces of globalization, technology, new forms of competition have noticeably transformed capital market worldwide (Hassan, 2004). The chief advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed stated that â€Å"Only a vibrant and well-regulated capital market can bring sustainable economic development in the country through making the real sector capable of meeting the challenges of the competitive global economic realities† ( DSE Monthly Review, June 2007). Regardless of recent improvements, Bangladesh’s capital market remains underdeveloped as its size is still very small in terms of market cap (ADB, 2006; Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007; Islam and Hassan 2002). The market cap represents just above 9% of the GDP (Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed retrieved from DSE Review). As Bangladesh capital market is still quite small compared to other regional market and to the size of its economy (CSE, 2006) despite its existence for a long time, this paper applies a framework for analyzing the significance of capital market for economic growth and development of Bangladesh, identifying its growth potentials through exploration. 2.0 Problem Statement Bangladesh’s capital market is still underdeveloped, in spite of recent improvements. The size of the country’s capital market is quite small mainly due to the excessive dependence of leading corporate entities on the banks for financing. Moreover the overall transparency of market transaction is also low compared to international standards and generally there has been slow development of the underlying market infrastructure. The government is making effort to develop the reliability and efficiency of stock exchanges as investment market. Compared to the other neighboring countries the numbers of participants are much smaller in Bangladesh as investor lack confidence. There is a supply side constrains in the capital market as quality shares are lacking. For all this reason this research is done to explore the importance of capital market in the economy and what are the prospective sign of development of the stock market. 3.0 Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to explore a well scanned scenario of Bangladesh capital market, its significance and its prospects. Although some research has been conducted relating to this topic but there is little empirical evidence about how essential stock market is to economic development of a country. A sound capital market prompts better economic base and influence its future growth and so it can help realize Bangladesh’s growth potential. The capital market of Bangladesh is on the brink to play its due role as a medium for financing investment and thereby making a notable contribution to economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation. The capital market plays an important role in quickening the pace of economic development but the existing state of the capital market is under-developed and not in a position to ensure economic progress of the country. Hence this research will try to highlight the significance of capital market for the nation and explore what are the probable signs of progress. 4.0 Research Timeline 2007 SeptemberWriting Research Proposal 2007 SeptemberDeveloping Literature Review 2007 OctoberCollecting Data 2007 October- NovemberData Analysis and Interpretation of the Findings 2007 NovemberPreparing Draft and Finalizing the Research Paper 2007 DecemberSubmission of Research Paper 5.0 Limitations of the study During conducting the research I came across certain limitations and among them the foremost one is time constrain. Although I got the opportunity to work in an organization that is capital market based but it was difficult to find spare time that could be used for the report. Moreover the interviewed person could not provide all necessary information due to lack of time. The research timeline also reveals that time constrain was actually a barrier as there was plenty to find about this research topic. As the research is conducted for the first time, I did not get much support from previous research paper and further research is suggested. A huge portion of the report is based on secondary data collected through websites and so the depth of reliability varies as by the nature of website. 6.0 Review of the Literature 6.1 Financial Intermediation According to Joseph Yam (2004) financial intermediation is channeling savings into investments. Aziz and Duenwald (2002) referred that financial intermediation affects growth through the following channels – (i) it can increase the marginal productivity of capital by collecting information to evaluate alternative investment projects and by risk sharing (ii) it can raise the proportion of savings channeled to investment through financial development. According to Conning and Kevane (2002) â€Å"intermediation implies an intermediary†. Gorton and Winton (2002) added that â€Å"it is the root institution in the saving investment process†. They referred that financial intermediaries are firms that borrow from those who have excess money, that is, the savers and lend the money to companies that need resources for investment. 6.2 Performance Indicators According to R. N. Agarwal (2000) the most commonly used standard to measure the size of a country’s stock market is market capitalization ratio, that is, the ratio of market value of stocks which are currently listed on a bourse to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A small ratio of capitalization to GDP reveals the small size of a stock market. Alternatively, the size can be measured by the number of listed companies on a stock market. The height of maturity of an economy’s financial system is essential for economic development. Bekeart et al., (2007), Hubard and Thornton (2006), Rosul (2002) all investigated the significance and relation of stock market development with the economic growth and their conclusion suggests that capital market development is positively correlated with long term economic growth and the capital market plays an important role in the economic development of any country. The size of the equity capital market has an optimistic effect on economic growth of the country, that is, much higher market cap and turnover has a major positive influence on the economy (Institute for Advanced Studies, IHS, 2006). It is seen that the ratio of market cap to GDP in neighboring countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is relatively much higher, that is, more than 60% of their GDP (DSE, Kh. Asadul Islam, 2007; Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed,2007). In Bangladesh the market cap is very small proportion of the countries GDP (Islam Hassan, 2002) and this is due to significant dependence on the banking sector (DSE Review, Fakhruddin Ahmed, June 2007). Market capitalization as a share of GDP was around 2.5%-3.3% during 2001-2003 compared with 1.4-10.1% during 1993-1996 and 2- 4% during 1997-2000. However in the year 2004 market cap reached 6.8% reflecting the rise in the DSE index from 968 to 1,971 at the end of 2003 and 2004 respectively (ADB, May 2005). The trend of market cap as percentage of GDP and other capital market indicators of DSE and CSE are shown through the help of statistical data represented in the discussion section in Table 1. Despite the existence of the bourse from 1954, the capital market still exhibits features of an emerging equity market (Islam Hassan, 2002). The finance sector is immensely bank-based (Salahuddin Ahmed, 2007) as resource mobilization for industrialization and economic development is made primarily through the regular banking system (Islam Hassan, 2002). Borrowing requires fixed payments and over-reliance on banks can cause credit default risk. According to (Mochammad Rosul, 2002) excessive reliance on bank borrowing results in a mismatch with long-term investments being financed with short-term bank loans. He added that such a risky situation can further contribute to the economic crisis and so the job of the principal fund supplier for business should be transferred from banking sector to the capital sector. 6.3 Regulatory Bodies 6.3.1. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) exercises power under the Security and Exchange Commission Act 1993 and established on June 8, 1993. SEC, the sole Capital Market Watchdog and Regulator, has been pursuing a vigorous capital market development process including amendments of its existing regulations, conduction of investor awareness programs, rigid monitoring and surveillance to bring in transparency in the trading mechanism (SEC, Annual Report 2003 -04). The responsibility of SEC includes the following: Regulating the functions of Stock Exchanges Registering and regulating the business of stock brokers, sub broker, share transfer agents, underwriters, registrar, portfolio managers, investment advisors, and other middlemen related to security dealings. Registering, controlling, and monitoring of all types of mutual funds Controlling and monitoring of all authorized self regulatory organizations Prohibiting fraudulent and unfair practices related to securities Promoting investor’s education program and providing training of intermediaries Regulating substantial acquisition of shares and takeover of companies SEC are detects market manipulation and also keeps constant vigil on the activities of stock exchanges to ensure effectiveness of the surveillance system. Conducts research and publishes information for above purposes (Source: Security Exchange Commission Website: www.secbd.com) 6.3.2 Stock Exchanges 6.3.2.1 Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) On April 28, 1954 DSE was first incorporated as the East Pakistan Stock Exchange Association Limited. Formal trading began in 1956 with 196 securities listed on the DSE with a total paid up capital of about Taka 4 billion. On June 23, 1962 it was renamed as Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Limited. After 1971, the trading activities of the prime bourse remained suppresses until 1976 due to liberation war and economic policy pursued by the then government. Trading resumed at DSE in 1976 with only 9 companies listed having a paid up of Taka 137.52 million (Bashar et al., 2000; M Farid Ahmed, 1997). As of today there are 342 listed companies in the prime bourse with market cap exceeding 700,000 million (DSE, 2007). The reforms that DSE undertook recently for ensuring professionalism and transparency focused on the trading of securities. The measure were taken to implement transparent trading system, efficient reporting of trade, real time delivery of information, strong surveillance and monitoring over trade of securities and settlement of shares (Rahman,Uddin and Malik, 2006). 6.3.2.2 The Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited (CSE) The CSE is the countries second bourse that started its operation from the year 1995. It is also a self-regulatory non profit organization. Currently the numbers of listed securities are 223 of which the number of listed companies are 208, mutual funds 14, and one debenture. 6.4 Recent Capital Market Scenario of Bangladesh According to Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed (DSE, 2007) political uncertainty, corruption and lack of transparency in all section of the social and economic fabric are some of the reasons for capital market deficiency. Bangladesh Governor Salehuddin Ahmed (2007) reveals that foremost problems include political instability, under developed infrastructure, poor port management, short comings in legal system and corruption (Financial Express Report). On the other hand DSE general share price index reached its pinnacle and crossed 3000 points (Newage: www.newagebd.com). In fact the capital market witnessed a robust growth in the current year. Both turnover and market cap crossed new milestones at Tk 3000 million and Tk 700,000 million respectively during the year (DSE, 2006; DSE, 2007, IDLCSL). Recently our market cap crossed USD 10 billion that accounts for only 13% of its GDP which was only 8% a year back. (DSE Monthly Review, Oct 2007). Though the contribution of capital market to GDP is still inadequate when compared to neighboring countries but still its increase is significant for the development of our economy. Comparison of indices and market cap among different countries is shown in Table 2 and Figure 2 in the discussion part. Entry of 12 new issues worth Tk 11,322.95 million helped raise the market cap. Some of the reason for the progress in capital market development is central depository system and the automated trading system (ADB, 2006; SEC, 2005). The DSE has upgraded its automated online trading system and investors are able to trade from different parts of the country (SEC Quarterly Report, April-June 2007; ADB, 2006). Another reason for the vigorous improvement of the equity capital market is due to strenuous efforts taken by the SEC that further boosted investors’ confidence (DSE, 2007). 7.0 Research Methodology 7.1 Research Design The present study endeavored to explore importance of capital market for the economic development of Bangladesh and its future prospects. Exploratory research is selected as research design as little information exists about the capital market of Bangladesh. The aim of exploratory research is mainly to gain enough information before doing more thorough research. We basically start by gathering as much information about the object as possible and with a vague impression of what we should study (Cooper Schindler, 2003). 7.2 Research Instrument The research was conducted using both primary and secondary data. For collecting secondary data, various books, websites, newspapers, annual reports, monthly reviews and significant articles were chosen. Also for collection of primary data in-depth interviews with a range of designated professional, related to this field, were taken. 7.3 Data Collection Secondary data used in the paper has been collected through access of different source of books, journals, publications of DSE, SEC, ADB and other news paper and articles. The DSE and SEC library were visited to acquire secondary information. Various websites were browsed to collect relevant articles that are circulated on online sites. For collecting primary data, in-depth interviews of experienced people related to this field of capital market were taken. Appointments were fixed initially and then the interviews were taken. The interviewed persons are Kh. Asadul Islam, CEO, IDLC Securities Limited (IDLCSL); Anwarul Kabir Bhuiyan, SEC, Executive Director; Tania Sharmin, SEC, Assistance Director (Surveillance); Abul Ehsan, Senior Officer, IDLC Finance Limited; Moumita Manzoor, Research Associate, IDLCSL. Each of them was interviewed for 40 minutes approximately during the office hour while taking break from work. They were asked some essential questions associated to this research topic. Some of the questions that were asked are as follows- What is the role of capital market in the economy? What are the setbacks of the stock market in Bangladesh? Explain the current scenario of the capital market What are the prospective sign of the development of the capital market? How can we be sure of a sound growth of capital market in Bangladesh? Do you see a better or worse scenario ahead of us and why? 8.0 Discussion 8.1 Role of Capital Market in the Economy According to Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam (2006) capital market can play an essential role in enhancing economic development through efficient intermediation of savings into productive investments and in encouraging the expansion of private entrepreneurship (DSE, 2006). The primary market can contribute to the growth of private entrepreneurship by facilitating the entrepreneurs to raise funds from surplus savers and consequently finance investment in a cost-effective manner. For instance, if an industrialist with a viable new investment or expansion proposal is unable to execute his plan due to financial crisis then he can issue securities to meet the required deficit. Moreover issuing shares have the additional advantage that they do not create fixed charges for the companies issuing them and hence endows a better option than, say, financing through bank loans. A proficient and vibrant secondary market can also contribute copiously to economic growth. If a company, for instance, is well-managed and the secondary market prices are higher than face value, subsequent rights issue can obtain premium. Therefore the company can finance its development plan in lucrative and cost-effective approach. So the capital market not only provides opportunity for companies to borrow funds needed for long term investment purposes but also provides avenue for the marketing of shares and other securities in order to raise fresh funds for expansion of operations, leading to increase in output or productivity. The equity market offers opportunity for government to finance projects aimed at providing essential amenities for socio-economic development. Such market encourages inflow of foreign capital when foreign companies or investors invest in domestic securities. The securities market can help attain higher productivity by restructuring of ownership and management of the company as secondary market provides an exit option for the original founders and it also creates an avenue for the populace to participate in the corporate sector of the economy and share in its wealth through ownership of securities. So it not only reduces the over-reliance of the corporate sector on short term finance for long term projects but truly makes available the needed money for venture capital development which could serve as a vehicle for industrial development. So through its allocating mechanism, the capital market ensures an efficient and effective distribution of scarce financial resources for the optimal benefit to the economy. 8.2 Major Setbacks of the Capital Market Investment in capital market is limited to a small proportion of the population. Investors’ confidence in the capital market has not entirely recovered since the stock market crash in 1996. Share market debacle in 1996 was mainly the result of market manipulation by a section of stockbrokers in collaboration with some other market participants (SEC, 1997). Some of the other notable reasons behind the stock market crash includes insider-trading and off-loading of shares by directors of the company, absence of circuit breaker in the securities market, disclosure of unregulated rumors and sensitive information, lack of attention given by investors to the relation between stock price and company fundamentals, weak regulatory body to name a few. The diagram below shows clearly the catastrophe that took place during 1996. Figure 1 DSE General Price Index (DGEN) 1993-2007 (Source: IDLCSL) On November, 2001 the DSE introduced the benchmark price barometer DSE General Index (DGEN) with a base index of 817.62 points. The index excludes companies of Z category and is calculated on the basis of price movement of individual stocks. Figure 1 displays the monthly DSE general index from the year January 1993 to November 2007, the latest month for which the data was available. From the diagram we can tell that the market behaved irrationally during the year 1996. The DSE all share price index rose from 832 in 1 January 1996 to 3567 in 14 November of the same year, i.e. DGEN rose from 1106 to 4738.83. This conspicuous rise in DSI was followed by a drastic fall to 2261.47 points in the last week of December 1996 and again to 1140.65 points on April 1997. The market was dreary for a long period of time after the 1996 collapse but between July 20003 and June 2005, DGEN more than doubled from 823 to 1727. It appears that the index is performing modestly in the current year followed by an uptrend as it shows an increase in the index from 1527.29 in November 2006 to 3011.60 in November 2007, reaching its pinnacle after 1996. The devastating history of 96 crashes still persists in the mind of potential investors but without mass participation the market cannot sustain in the long-run. Also it needs to bring back the foreign investors that fled in the 1996 debacle. Inflows of foreign direct investment need to be restored to stabilize the economy. From the statistical data below in Table 1 it can be observed that foreign investors are least attracted to the securities market of Bangladesh. There were significant foreign investment inflows into equities in the year 1994 amounting to $ 106 million but by the mid 1997, most of the foreign portfolio investors had divested holdings and have not since returned. The following table contains the key capital market indicators reflecting that the pace of primary market development had been fluctuating and the market’s contribution to resource mobilization of the economy remains below potential and the secondary market remained stagnant during 1997-2003 but showed some sign of recovery in 2004. Overall, investor confidence has not yet fully recovered. Table 1 Capital Market Indicators- Dhaka Stock Exchange Item 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 No of Listed Companies 143 157 183 186 202 208 213 223 231 242 248 337 Market Cap In taka (mn) 18099 41771 56518 168106 71302 50254 44789 62932 63777 71269 97587 224923 In $ (mn) 455 1038 1409 3960 1569 1036 881 1169 1119 1229 1685 3709 Market Cap as % of GDP 1.44 3.08 3.71 10.11 3.95 2.51 2.04 2.65 2.52 2.61 3.25 6.76