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This paper studies the efficacy of using moving average technical trading rules with currencies of emerging economies. If technical trading rules are successful, they can become a risk management tool for multinational firms and investors in emerging markets. Typical risk management tools such as forwards, futures, and options are not sufficiently active in emerging currency markets. In this paper we use four Variable Length Moving Average (VMA) trading models and compare them to a simple buy and hold strategy. Results support the effectiveness of our trading models, which imply the presence of strong serial correlation among currency returns for emerging markets. As a result, the predictability of future currency prices will allow investors to create effective hedges in the often volatile emerging markets.

Outlines previous research on stock market efficiency and technical trading rules in both developed and emerging markets. Uses variable moving average (VMA) models to develop five technical trading rules and applies them to markets in Taiwan, Thailand and The Phillippines 1994‐1999. Compares results with the US and Japan indices and a simple buy and hold strategy. Finds the VMA rules gave higher returns in Taiwan and very much higher returns in Thailand and The Phillippines, even after transaction costs, but not in Japan and the USA. Considers the reasons why and calls for further research.

Outlines increased interest from investors in corporate social policies over the last ten years and previous research comparing the investment performance of “socially responsible” (SR) portfolios with others. Measures performance for a US sample of SR and conventional mutual funds using a variety of methods (including Jensen’s Alpha, the Sharpe Ratio and the Treynor ratio), analysing the funds by investment strategy, size, systematic risk and the use of inclusion screens. Presents the results, which do not give a clear advantage to either group, but show that funds with inclusion screens consistently outperform those without. Calls for further research on the relationship between corporate social performance and portfolio performance and comparisons between SR and conventional funds.