...MASH The first thing I noticed was the awesome theme music. I remember seeing reruns of M*A*S*H as a kid and turning the channel immediately because the opening theme made it sound like a drama and not something funny. So when the lyrics of the song are sung at the beginning of the film it catches me off guard. “Suicide is painless”, is one of the stupidest lyrics I think I've ever heard but I think that was the point of director Robert Altman. I later did some research and found out the song was written by the director's 14 year old son. Something else I noticed right off the bat was how familiar a lot of the faces were but I couldn't put a name on any of them until the credits rolled, Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould, and Robert Duvall being the most familiar. Up until a few years ago I had no idea M*A*S*H was a movie before it was a show. So when we were assigned the film I had expectations of seeing some of the cast members of the series. Apparently I was wrong because I didn't see any whatsoever. From what I've read, the show is based on the movie, and the movie is based on the book so all the characters are exactly the same. I have to say this. Hawkeye and Trapper John are now two of my favorite movie characters of all time. Sutherland and Gould played their respective parts so nonchalantly that you forget they're both actually trained surgeons in the middle of a very bloody war. I have to admit the zaniness of the film touched a bit too close to something I would...
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...Strategic Asset Allocation: Determining the Optimal Portfolio with Ten Asset Classes Niels Bekkers Mars The Netherlands Ronald Q. Doeswijk* Robeco The Netherlands Trevin W. Lam Rabobank The Netherlands October 2009 Abstract This study explores which asset classes add value to a traditional portfolio of stocks, bonds and cash. Next, we determine the optimal weights of all asset classes in the optimal portfolio. This study adds to the literature by distinguishing ten different investment categories simultaneously in a mean-variance analysis as well as a market portfolio approach. We also demonstrate how to combine these two methods. Our results suggest that real estate, commodities and high yield add most value to the traditional asset mix. A study with such a broad coverage of asset classes has not been conducted before, not in the context of determining capital market expectations and performing a mean-variance analysis, neither in assessing the global market portfolio. JEL classification: G11, G12 Key words: strategic asset allocation, capital market expectations, mean-variance analysis, optimal portfolio, global market portfolio. This study has benefited from the support and practical comments provided by Jeroen Beimer, Léon Cornelissen, Lex Hoogduin, Menno Meekel, Léon Muller, Laurens Swinkels and Pim van Vliet. Special thanks go to Jeroen Blokland and Rolf Hermans for many extensive and valuable discussions. We thank Peter Hobbs for providing the detailed segmentation...
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...National Institute of Securities Markets Assessment of Long Term Performance of Credit Rating Agencies in India July 2009 5th Floor, Plot No.82, Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400 705 1 Contents Terms of Reference Executive Summary Acknowledgements CRAs: Relevance and Perspective Raters and Ratings: Evolution and the Current State of the Art Critical Evaluation of Ratings Rating Transition and Default Study Emerging Trends and Alternate Approaches Conclusions and Recommendations References Annexure Sample Questionnaire 3 4 14 15 21 32 43 58 63 74 78 2 Terms of Reference This Study has been commissioned by NISM as desired by the Committee on Comprehensive Regulation of CRA’s in India, to look into the legal and policy framework for regulating the activities of Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs), vide letter bearing Reference No. F.No.12/11/07-PM, dated 16.1.2009. The Terms of Reference are listed as under: 1. Assessment of the performance of CRAs in India in terms of parameters like default and transition data 2. How much information asymmetry is bridged by CRAs 3. How far CRAs assessment helps financial regulation 4. Accountability, corporate governance issues of CRAs 5. Disclosures of methodologies of rating 6. Rating of complex products like structured obligation 7. Uniformity or otherwise in definition and rating nomenclature of CRAs in India 8. Consistency of rating data with accounting data 9. Overall evaluation of what CRAs have done in terms of value...
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...University of Nottingham Credit Risk Management in Major British Banks By Xiuzhu Zhao 2007 A Dissertation presented in part consideration for the degree of “MA Finance and Investment” Acknowledgement I would like to express my special thanks to my supervisor Mrs. Margaret Woods, who has given me strong support and encouragement during the whole research, and I am very appreciate of the expert guidance and inspiration she brought me. I am very grateful to my parents for their love and encouragement during my whole education period. The academic suggestions my father has given help me a lot in designing the dissertation. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my friends especially those in Melton Hall. I will never forget the help they have offered, which raises my confidence in completing this dissertation. i Abstract Credit risk is always treated as the major risk inherent in a bank’s banking and trading activities. And if not well managed, this kind of risk may drag a bank into great trouble or even bankruptcy, which can be proved by various bank failure cases. For banks, managing credit risk is not a simple task since comprehensive considerations and practices are needed for identifying, measuring, controlling and minimizing credit risk. In this dissertation, the credit risk management practices of major British banks are examined through the quantitative research on all Major British Banking Group members and qualitative analysis on the four sample banks....
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...Defeating the Islamic State: Both Short-term and Long-term Counter Strategies for the Proto-State and its Ideologies Christopher J. Minchin Norwich University FIRST DRAFT SOCI 401A Culture and Anthropology February 16, 2016 Tracey Poirier Source: The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP).), Jan, 2016. “If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles“ –– Sun Tzu, Chinese philosopher and military strategist, around 500 BC. “Our terrorism against America is blessed terrorism.” –– Osama bin Laden (on video) “The acme of this religion is jihad.” — Osama bin Laden (Bergen, 2001, p. 41) Many have asked, “what can we do to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)? ” There have been a variety of suggestions from airstrikes, isolation , establishing a national unity government in Iraq to the feasibility of a counter-offensive using 'local' militia's and only as a last resort U.S. Boots on the ground. These are all worthy ideas; however, it is imperative to get a fundamental understanding of what has caused this problem because ISIS is growing and becoming stronger (even though current air strikes and counter-offensives have been successful). Before a decision can be made a rigorous analysis is necessary, a sociological analysis, so that the United States and the rest of the world can determine what must be done regarding ISIS and why. (Thesis):...
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...Financial Accounting for Decision Makers Visit the Financial Accounting for Decision Makers, sixth edition Companion Website at www.pearsoned.co.uk/atrillmclaney to find valuable student learning material including: G G G G G Self assessment questions to test your learning A study guide to aid self-learning Revision questions and exercises to help you check your understanding Extensive links to valuable resources on the web Comments on case studies to aid interpretative and analytical skills We work with leading authors to develop the strongest educational materials in accounting, bringing cutting-edge thinking and best learning practice to a global market. Under a range of well-known imprints, including Financial Times Prentice Hall, we craft high-quality print and electronic publications which help readers to understand and apply their content, whether studying or at work. To find out more about the complete range of our publishing, please visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.pearsoned.co.uk 6th Edition Financial Accounting for Decision Makers Peter Atrill and Eddie McLaney Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex CM20 2JE England and Associated Companies throughout the world Visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.pearsoned.co.uk Second edition published 1999 by Prentice Hall Europe Third edition published 2002 by Pearson Education Limited Fourth edition 2005 Fifth edition 2008 Sixth edition 2011 © Prentice Hall Europe...
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...tly A sk ed Fr equen in s Question orporate C FinanCe io, a llocch ur izio D uiry, M a lv i Pa sc a l Q tonio Sa Le Fur , A n Ya nn From the team behind Pierre Vernimmen’s % = Corporate FinanCe + 3 Frequently Asked Questions in Corporate Finance Frequently Asked Questions in Corporate Finance Pierre Vernimmen, Pascal Quiry, Antonio Salvi, Maurizio Dallocchio and Yann LeFur A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication This edition first published in 2011 Copyright 2011 Pierre Vernimmen Registered office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, United Kingdom For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com The rights of Pierre Vernimmen, Pascal Quiry, Antonio Salvi, Maurizio Dallocchio and Yann LeFur to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with...
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