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This study aims to investigate the market reaction in the cyclical consumer sector to the US–Houthi conflict. Furthermore, the authors explore the impact of this conflict on market reactions by market and region.

Using an event study methodology, this paper analyze a sample of 1,973 companies. This paper used multiple event windows, including a 15-day period before the invasion announcement as the preinvasion event and a 15-day period after the invasion announcement as the postinvasion event.

The authors find that pre the event of war, the market tended to show a positive reaction, but toward the event day until post event, the market in the consumer cyclical sector actually reacted significantly negatively to the conflict, especially in developed and developing markets. The Asia and Pacific market is the market that feels the most negative impact from the US–Houthi conflict compared to other markets. Furthermore, in terms of industry types in the consumer staples sector, Food and Tobacco and Personal and Household Products and Services felt the negative impact, although the majority of all industries reacted significantly negatively.

This study focuses on the US–Houthi conflict, an event that has not been extensively studied in the context of market reactions. Unlike previous research, this study specifically examines the impact of the conflict on the consumer cyclical sector, emphasizing the significance of trade route disruptions, particularly the Suez Canal, on global markets. By providing insights into how such geopolitical events affect different regions and industries, this study offers valuable guidance for policymakers and managers in mitigating the adverse effects of geopolitical risks on market stability.

This study aims to examine the impact of sponsors and democratic government on the flipping activity of initial public offerings (IPOs).

Based on the sample of 95 IPOs listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange between January 2000 and December 2019, this study used multiple cross-sectional regression to examine the relationship between sponsors and democratic government on flipping activity.

The findings indicate a significant negative association between sponsors and the flipping activity of IPOs. Sponsor(s) signal quality by trying to share accurate information about company values. As a result, the confidence of rational investors in the company’s future prospectus increases and they hold their shares for future gains, which reduces the flipping activity. Also, democratic government, along with sponsors' participation, provides investors with liquidity immediately after listing.

The findings of this study have implications for investors as they may assist them make informed decisions about whether or not to invest in an IPO with high sponsor(s) ownership. In addition, issuers should consider the disclosure of sponsor information(s) as such information may directly affect the first day’s trading volumes.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research study that explores the correlation between sponsors and democratic government and flipping activity of IPO. This study is important for investors and issuers.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of privatized initial public offerings (IPOs) on flipping activity in the Pakistan IPO market.

This study sampled 95 IPOs listed on the Pakistan stock exchange over the period of 2000 to 2019. The ordinary least square technique and quantile regression were used to examine the impact of privatized IPO on flipping activity.

The present study finds that privatization affects flipping activity and creates a quality signal in Pakistan’s IPO market. The findings of this study also show that privatized IPOs were subjected to high levels of flipping activity compared to non-privatized IPOs. Additionally, investors’ demand has been found to moderate the relationship between privatized IPOs and flipping activity in Pakistan’s IPO market.

Based on the fact that the sample consists of a combination of privatized and non-privatized IPOs, the results provide valuable insight into factors that may lead to unusual trading behavior/flipping during the first day of listing.

Despite several studies on events (e.g. short- and long-term price performance) around IPO, there is little evidence on how privatized IPOs affect flipping activity, which is a high volume of trading immediately after listing.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the disclosure of earnings forecasts in firms' prospectuses to explain investor demands or, in other words, oversubscription rates of Malaysian initial public offerings (IPOs).

Ordinary least squares and robust methods were used to examine cross-sectional data comprising 466 fixed-price IPOs reported for the period from January 2000 to February 2020 on Bursa Malaysia.

The results showed that IPOs with earnings forecasts obtained higher oversubscription rates than those without earnings forecasts. IPOs with earnings forecasts provide value-relevant signals to prospective investors about the good prospects of firms, resulting in an increase in the demand for IPO shares. For the IPO samples listed during the global financial crisis (GFC) period, IPOs with earnings forecasts had negative impacts on the oversubscription rates. These results were robust to quantile methods and the two-stage least squares method.

The research findings provide fresh information for investors regarding the importance of earnings forecasts as a trustworthy signal of a firm’s quality when making share subscription decisions.

The regulator is advised to encourage issuers to include earnings forecasts in their prospectuses since such forecasts help to increase the demand for IPOs.

This study contributes to the literature by offering empirical evidence regarding the signalling impact of earnings forecast disclosures on investor demands for Malaysian IPOs. Moreover, this study provides evidence demonstrating the impact of earnings forecast disclosures on oversubscription rates of Malaysian IPOs during the GFC period.

Child malnutrition is a grave concern for Pakistan, as the country has one of the highest incidences of child stunting in the developing world. The present study examines the relative significance of parents' education on a child's nutritional status in Pakistan.

For analysis, the study has used data from Phase 7 of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) (2017–2018). Since the dependent variable ranges from 0 to 1 (1 indicates not a stunted child, while 0 represents a stunted child), binary logistic regressions are used for the analysis.

The results show that mothers' and fathers' education positively contributes to a child's nutrition. However, mothers' education is considered more significant, especially in the long run. The mother's education categories are positive and significant in the long run, while only their higher education is positive and significant for the father's. Moreover, the magnitude of the effect also shows that the probability of stunting is less if the mothers are educated. The long-run coefficient for mothers' higher education is 0.752, while that of fathers' higher education is only 0.232.

The present study compares the importance of mothers' and fathers' education in child nutrition and concludes that the role of the mother is more crucial for child upbringing. There are rarely any studies that focus on the role of fathers' education in child nutrition and compare whose role, mothers' or fathers,' is more important for child well-being.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0483

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship that exists between financial depth and economic growth in Poland for the years 1995–2019. This paper utilizes integration and co-integration techniques to capture the long-term and short-term linkages between various determinants of financial deepening, economic growth and a few selected growth variables. Financial depth is measured using two distinct measures: the monetization ratio (i.e. the ratio of broad money in the economy to the gross domestic product (GDP)) and the domestic credit provided to private sector by banks.

The paper uses a combination of Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) and Phillips–Perron unit root tests, autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model and Granger causality tests to estimate results.

This paper finds that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between financial deepening and economic growth in the short run, but this relationship does not hold in the long run. The control variables comprising trade volume, investment, government spending and volatility in oil prices and inflation have a significant, positive relationship with economic development in the long run.

The findings are indicative of the need for further strengthening of the financial sector in Poland, such that the relationship between financial depth and economic growth is substantiated in the long run. This paper also finds room for more stringent regulation of the financial system and transparency in information available.

ß-thalassemia is a hereditary disorder due to mutation in the ß-globin gene on chromosome 11. Out of 200 known ß-globin gene chain mutations recognized, it is better to identify the most common mutation in specific regions and ethnicity for cost-effective molecular diagnosis of this disorder. Therefore, this study aims to practice multiplex-amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) PCR on patients with thalassemia in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to investigate the most common mutations in the ß-globin chain gene.

Twenty-two individuals (patients, their parents and non-affected siblings) with signed consent were studied from six consanguineous families of ß-thalassemia. Blood samples were collected for DNA isolation. For the detection of mutations in the ß-globin gene, ARMS-PCR was used. The amplicon was visualized through 2% Agarose Gel.

The most common mutations among different ethnic groups in the study area residents were Fr 8-9 (+G) and IVS 1-5 (G> C). The prominent enhancing factors for ß-thalassemia are inter-family marriages and lack of awareness.

Multiplex ARMS_PCR is the most valuable technique for assessing multiple mutations in a single reaction tube.

Due to extensively found ethnic and regional variations and a high rate of consanguinity, the Pashtun population has a great risk of mutations in their genome. Therefore, ARMS-PCR is a cost-effective mutational diagnostic strategy that can help to control disease burden.

Limited studies using ARMS-PCR for mutational analysis in the ß-globin gene are conducted. This study is unique as it targeted consanguineous families of KP Pakistan.

1. Understand the impact of macroeconomic factors on investment portfolios:Students will learn how macroeconomic conditions, such as changes in policy rates by central banks, influence investment decisions and portfolio performance. They will analyze how these factors can lead to significant financial challenges for managed funds.2. Develop strategic financial decision-making skills:Through examining the case, students will practice making strategic financial decisions under uncertain and volatile market conditions. They will explore various options for managing an underperforming investment fund and the potential outcomes of these choices.3. Evaluate risk management techniques:The case provides a platform for students to understand different risk management strategies, including the trade-offs between holding long-term bonds versus reinvesting in short-term securities. They will assess the risks and benefits of these strategies and how they impact fund stability and performance.4. Enhance skills in portfolio management:Students will gain practical experience in portfolio management by examining the fund’s investment decisions, performance metrics and the process of presenting and defending investment proposals. This will involve analyzing the financial and strategic implications of different asset allocations.5. Apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios:The case encourages students to apply theoretical concepts such as yield to maturity (YTM) calculation, discounted cash flow analysis, capital asset pricing models and benchmarking against indices to real-world scenarios. This helps bridge the gap between academic principles and practical application in finance.

The case study centered on the Sukkur IBA University in Pakistan, highlighting the challenges faced by its student-managed fund (SMF). From November 2015 to January 2023, the case study offers a comprehensive examination of the fund’s activities in the financial services and higher education domains. Mr Shankar Talreja, the fund manager, contemplating with significant investment losses because of macroeconomic fluctuations, specifically the rising policy rates by the State Bank of Pakistan. These losses challenge the sustainability of the SMF, which serves as a practical learning platform for students. The primary dilemma revolves around whether to continue operating the fund amid consistent losses or to dissolve it, redirecting resources to other educational programs. This case focuses on financial decision-making, risk management and investment strategies, tailored for academic settings.

This case study is intended for use in graduate- and undergraduate-level courses on corporate strategy, investment management and finance. It is appropriate for graduate students who are looking to apply these concepts more deeply as well as undergraduate students who have a strong foundation in finance due to the complexity of the financial concepts involved, such as risk management, portfolio strategy and macroeconomic impacts.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

The study aimed to investigate public library users' most frequent and least frequent activities in the library and demographic differences in the use of public libraries. The study also explored library users' perceived importance of library resources, services and the value of the library as a place.

Quantitative research design and survey research method were used to achieve the objectives of the study. A multistage sampling technique was employed to approach the targeted population. At the first stage, ten functional libraries of Lahore were selected purposively. The targeted population was users of the ten public libraries of the Punjab, Lahore. At the second stage, convenience sampling was used to collect data from public library users. The instrument of the research study was the questionnaire and it was developed with the help of the literature and administrated personally. The questionnaire was distributed to 384 public library users of the Lahore district and 301 questionnaires were returned out of 384.

The results of the study showed that library users frequently visited the library for reading personal books and examination preparation; however, they never or rarely used e-databases, photocopy and printer services, computer stations, the internet, library catalog and socialization with friends. Significant differences were found among public library users in their public library use on the basis of gender, age, designation and academic qualification. The library collection played a very important role in developing the community's reading habits, supporting academic achievements and self-grooming.

The results of the study suggest that public librarians can expand library reading halls space and provide a comfortable reading environment for the users. Library community programs are helpful in lifelong learning; therefore, the library should organize community programs (i.e. storytelling sessions, workshops and interactive sessions) for their users. Public libraries can strengthen their services by considering demographic differences in public library use.

The study is valuable as it will examine the public libraries' use, demographic differences in use and users' perceived importance of library resources, service and place in Pakistani context. Very few studies investigated gender differences in public library; however, this study's findings will contribute to knowledge by examining various demographic differences in library use.

Supply chain (SC) managers influence firms in incorporating green behavior throughout the value chain in functions such as purchasing, production, distribution and transportation. In this study, we aim to understand the antecedents of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in SC managers.

We develop a research model hypothesizing a direct role of SC managers' private green behaviors, subjective norms, personal and organizational barriers as factors influencing the manager's pro-environmental intentions. We also analyze the impact of these intentions on actual behavior. We surveyed managers working in the SC of manufacturing firms in a developing country and tested the research model using structural equation modeling.

Our results indicate that SC managers' personal barriers significantly influence intentions to act pro-environmentally and these intentions then predict their actual behavior. However, SC managers' private green behaviors do not spill over to their workplace. Furthermore, the study shows that organizational-level barriers and subjective norms may reverse green intentions.

This study contributes to the research literature by identifying the role of organizational, personal and social factors in modifying the SC managers' intentions. It provides useful insights into how these factors affect the behavior of SC managers. Thus, we extend prior work in the area of PEB to the SC environment.