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This study aims to develop a robust predictive model for anticipating financial distress within Pakistani companies, providing a crucial tool for proactive economic turbulence management.

To achieve this objective, the study examines a comprehensive data set comprising nonfinancial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2022. It investigates 23 financial ratios categorized under profitability, liquidity, leverage, asset efficiency, size and growth.

The study reveals that financial ratio indices are more effective in forecasting financial distress compared to individual ratios. These indices achieve impressive accuracy rates, ranging from a robust 93.90% in the first year leading up to bankruptcy to a commendable 73.71% in the fifth year. Furthermore, the research identifies profitability, liquidity, leverage, asset efficiency, size and growth as pivotal indicators for financial distress prediction.

This research underscores the utility and practicality of financial ratio indices, offering a comprehensive perspective on risk assessment and management. In conclusion, this pioneering study provides valuable insights into financial distress prediction, highlighting the enhanced information capture made possible by financial ratio indices. It equips stakeholders in the Pakistan Stock Exchange with an effective means to proactively address financial risks.

Research on women-owned businesses is more extensive in developed countries than in developing countries. This prompted the authors to investigate the factors that affect women entrepreneurs' motives to start a business and the challenges they faced in running their businesses in India.

Data for the analysis were collected from 620 respondents using a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews with 20 women entrepreneurs. The data were then analyzed using descriptive and factor analysis in the statistical software “SPSS” (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).

The findings showed that the primary motivation for women to launch their own business was to achieve self-employment. Other motivations include increasing income and allowing women to follow their passion. Factor analysis indicates that women entrepreneurs are more motivated by push than pull factors. The research also shows that women encounter challenges in their entrepreneurial journey, such as access to financing, issues with gender equality and social and cultural obligations.

The study on women entrepreneurs in the Indian context is limited. This study responds to a need of better understanding of women motivations and challenges. By studying these constructs, the study shows that start-up motives and challenges faced by female entrepreneurs are unique to different contexts.