Research in Finance

The theme of this volume is "Dealing with Volatility and Enhancing Performance". The lead chapter sets the theme by giving insight into using the Chicago Board Option Exchange Volatility Index (CBOE VIX) futures in hedging strategies for equity market investors (and hedge funds). During a time when there is much concern about the perceived volatility of global equity markets, the insights offered here could be reassuring as well as useful. The second chapter offers insights into the efficiency (or lack thereof) of attempts for forecast global earnings. Then, the third chapter offers new insights into an issue that has been important for many decades, but which promises to become more topical in the years to come. That is the question of when and why the people who make the business work should also be the owners. Remaining chapters offer further insights into recent trends in "in-house" mergers/acquisitions activity, purchases and sales of real options, project risk, electricity derivatives, corporate governance in Europe, and emerging markets.