Creating Sustainability-Oriented Fintech Lending Platforms in Australia. This project aims to investigate how FinTech lending companies can use customers' environmental information to access their creditworthiness, and whether lending decisions based on environmental information can promote pro-environmental behaviour and expedite the societal transformation towards a low-carbon economy. These aims will be achieved through a quantitative analysis that evaluates the use of a customer's "carbon fo ....Creating Sustainability-Oriented Fintech Lending Platforms in Australia. This project aims to investigate how FinTech lending companies can use customers' environmental information to access their creditworthiness, and whether lending decisions based on environmental information can promote pro-environmental behaviour and expedite the societal transformation towards a low-carbon economy. These aims will be achieved through a quantitative analysis that evaluates the use of a customer's "carbon footprint" for predicting default risk, and a field experiment that analyses the economic and environmental benefits of the proposal. The project intends to develop a new approach that contributes to developing a sustainable lending platform for Fintech firms and establishing sustainable FinTech standards for policymakers.Read moreRead less
An Examination of Strategic Investment Arrangements for Institutional Investors: The Case for Centralised Portfolio Management. The aim of this project is to examine the extent to which Australian superannuation funds are able to enhance their overall returns, achieve investment objectives, and minimise operating costs incurred. This will be achieved by examining the benefits of centralised portfolio management for superannuation funds, and consideration of how active and index management can be ....An Examination of Strategic Investment Arrangements for Institutional Investors: The Case for Centralised Portfolio Management. The aim of this project is to examine the extent to which Australian superannuation funds are able to enhance their overall returns, achieve investment objectives, and minimise operating costs incurred. This will be achieved by examining the benefits of centralised portfolio management for superannuation funds, and consideration of how active and index management can be utilised within the overall fund structure. We will show the problems associated with the current portfolio configuration system adopted by super funds, and to identify areas where more optimal investment arrangements can significantly improve overall portfolio returns and reduce expenses.Read moreRead less
An Empirical Examination of Non-Market Capitalisation Weighted Indices in Australia. If Australian fund managers switched from capital weighted indices to fundamental weighted indices, due to their greater efficiency, millions of Australians may have more money at retirement and thus reduce the burden on government to supplement their retirement income. Also, providing practical industry directed research, and PhD graduates in portfolio management will enhance both finance academia and industry ....An Empirical Examination of Non-Market Capitalisation Weighted Indices in Australia. If Australian fund managers switched from capital weighted indices to fundamental weighted indices, due to their greater efficiency, millions of Australians may have more money at retirement and thus reduce the burden on government to supplement their retirement income. Also, providing practical industry directed research, and PhD graduates in portfolio management will enhance both finance academia and industry and improve the quality and breadth of finance practice and research in Australia. Read moreRead less
An Integrated Approach to Credit Risk Management and the Valuation of Credit Derivatives. Financial positions subject to risk of default typically involve three components: risk which is traded, diversifiable or neither. The project will analyse the relationship of these default risk components by rigorously modeling default dependence between obligors and harnessing the information in liquid market prices, such as credit spreads. On the basis of risk capital allocation, it will eliminate the ar ....An Integrated Approach to Credit Risk Management and the Valuation of Credit Derivatives. Financial positions subject to risk of default typically involve three components: risk which is traded, diversifiable or neither. The project will analyse the relationship of these default risk components by rigorously modeling default dependence between obligors and harnessing the information in liquid market prices, such as credit spreads. On the basis of risk capital allocation, it will eliminate the arbitrariness in pricing non-traded risks. This will yield an integrated credit risk management methodology ready for the next generation of regulatory requirements currently under discussion by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.Read moreRead less
Implied distributions and implied asset dynamics: Calibration and visualisation of models on market data. Global money markets represent a very complex interlinked system. Market prices of derivative financial instruments bear information about this system, information that is critical for the effective management of interest rate and currency risks in a global context. The project will develop and test methods to extract this information. It will provide an interactive environment to explore (n ....Implied distributions and implied asset dynamics: Calibration and visualisation of models on market data. Global money markets represent a very complex interlinked system. Market prices of derivative financial instruments bear information about this system, information that is critical for the effective management of interest rate and currency risks in a global context. The project will develop and test methods to extract this information. It will provide an interactive environment to explore (numerically and visually) sensitivities of asset dynamics and derivatives prices to input data and modelling assumptions, thus permitting a detailed analysis of market and model risk.Read moreRead less
Governance and the investment performance of not-for-profit endowments. Governance and the investment performance of not-for-profit endowments. This project aims to examine the relation between performance and governance for Australian not for profit (NFP) endowments. The not-for-profit sector now accounts for over 4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) (almost $43 billion) and employs volunteers who contribute an additional $14.6 billion in unpaid work. Little research has been done on ....Governance and the investment performance of not-for-profit endowments. Governance and the investment performance of not-for-profit endowments. This project aims to examine the relation between performance and governance for Australian not for profit (NFP) endowments. The not-for-profit sector now accounts for over 4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) (almost $43 billion) and employs volunteers who contribute an additional $14.6 billion in unpaid work. Little research has been done on the investment performance of the endowments held by NFPs, even though this is an important contributor to their revenues. Expected outcomes include a publicised set of principles and periodically updated index of endowment governance quality, and attendant improvement in NFP investment management.Read moreRead less
What Is the Optimal Level of Transparency and Should Off-Market Block Trading exist in Futures Markets? The aims of this project are twofold; to assess (i) what level of transparency is optimal and (ii) whether off-market block trading should be allowed in futures markets. Transparency refers to how much of the trading process is made visible to participants. The issue has been researched only very recently and findings have been limited. Off-market block trading procedures allow large trades ....What Is the Optimal Level of Transparency and Should Off-Market Block Trading exist in Futures Markets? The aims of this project are twofold; to assess (i) what level of transparency is optimal and (ii) whether off-market block trading should be allowed in futures markets. Transparency refers to how much of the trading process is made visible to participants. The issue has been researched only very recently and findings have been limited. Off-market block trading procedures allow large trades to be executed away from the market. This project will undertake the first study of large trades on futures markets and will also compare the impact of large trades on market quality when executed on- and off-market.Read moreRead less
The Role of Corporate Governance Mechanisms in Maximising the Performance of Listed Australian Corporations. The recent spake of corporate collapses and scandals highlights the need for an ongoing commitment to the development, implementation and maintenance of strong systems of governance within Australian corporations. This commitment necessitates an understanding of which suite of governance mechanisms are most effective in positively impacting upon corporate performance rather than just the ....The Role of Corporate Governance Mechanisms in Maximising the Performance of Listed Australian Corporations. The recent spake of corporate collapses and scandals highlights the need for an ongoing commitment to the development, implementation and maintenance of strong systems of governance within Australian corporations. This commitment necessitates an understanding of which suite of governance mechanisms are most effective in positively impacting upon corporate performance rather than just the performance impact of a particular mechanism in isolation. To date, research facilitating such an understanding is all but non-existent. However, our study will yield this much-needed evidence and, therefore, provide the foundations for ongoing corporate governance reform on the part of regulators and practitioners alike.Read moreRead less
Equity Market Integrity and Liquidity. This project seeks to increase our understanding of market integrity. Market integrity directly impacts investor confidence which influences liquidity and the cost of capital. It is imperative that exchanges implement policies to enhance integrity to survive in a competitive market. The Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX) has provided access to unique data of alleged market manipulation to undertake this research. Previous researchers have been cons ....Equity Market Integrity and Liquidity. This project seeks to increase our understanding of market integrity. Market integrity directly impacts investor confidence which influences liquidity and the cost of capital. It is imperative that exchanges implement policies to enhance integrity to survive in a competitive market. The Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX) has provided access to unique data of alleged market manipulation to undertake this research. Previous researchers have been constrained by their inability to access such data. We now have an opportunity to complete unique research to develop a measure of market integrity and assess its impact on liquidity and the cost of capital.Read moreRead less
Understanding market mechanisms to achieve greater efficiency in institutional equities and futures markets. This project investigates the impact of high frequency trading on financial market quality. Financial markets are essential for capital raising and form a critical part of the Australian economy. Ordinary residents have billions invested in it through superannuation. Deterioration in market quality leads to poor consumer confidence, increases firms’ cost of capital and transaction costs, ....Understanding market mechanisms to achieve greater efficiency in institutional equities and futures markets. This project investigates the impact of high frequency trading on financial market quality. Financial markets are essential for capital raising and form a critical part of the Australian economy. Ordinary residents have billions invested in it through superannuation. Deterioration in market quality leads to poor consumer confidence, increases firms’ cost of capital and transaction costs, and ultimately reduces retirement quality. The proliferation of high frequency trading in financial markets requires a thorough understanding of their impact on market quality. This project aims to lead to more efficient regulation, improving financial markets and making Australia attractive to investors and enhancing the quality of retirement for residents.Read moreRead less