• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.171-184
• /
• 2023

Purpose: First, this paper suggests an alternative approach to find optimal portfolio (stocks, bonds and ESG stocks) under the maximizing utility of investors. Second, we include ESG stocks in our optimal portfolio, and compare improvement of welfares in the case with and without ESG stocks in portfolio. Methods: Our main method of analysis follows Brennan et al(2002), designed under the continuous time framework. We assume that the dynamics of stock price follow the Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) while the short rate have the Vasicek model. For the utility function of investors, we use the Power Utility Function, which commonly used in financial studies. The optimal portfolio and welfares are derived in the partial equilibrium. The parameters are estimated by using Kalman filter and ordinary least square method. Results: During the overall analysis period, the portfolio including ESG, did not show clear welfare improvement. In 2017, it has slightly exceeded this benchmark 1, showing the possibility of improvement, but the ESG stocks we selected have not strongly shown statistically significant welfare improvement results. This paper showed that the factors affecting optimal asset allocation and welfare improvement were different each other. We also found that the proportion of optimal asset allocation was affected by factors such as asset return, volatility, and inverse correlation between stocks and bonds, similar to traditional financial theory. Conclusion: The portfolio with ESG investment did not show significant results in welfare improvement is due to that 1) the KRX ESG Leaders 150 selected in our study is an index based on ESG integrated scores, which are designed to affect stability rather than profitability. And 2) Korea has a short history of ESG investment. During the limited analysis period, the performance of stock-related assets was inferior to bond assets at the time of the interest rate drop.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2011.02a
• /
• pp.413-419
• /
• 2011

Corporate governance is a system articulating the division of responsibilities among different company members, and defining the running rules and procedures for making decisions on corporate affairs. The separation of ownership and management in modern enterprises brings agency problems to the company shareholders, and it is wildly believed that good practice on corporate governance is essential to prevent managers from taking actions by which profiteering their own benefits but compromising the interests of shareholders. This research investigates the level of companies' compliance with the corporate governance codes to find whether significant differences in corporate governance practice exist between the listed construction companies and the national leading companies in Taiwan. Further exploration focuses on the correlation between the compliance level and the industrial features. The investigation finds that: (1)Construction companies display lower levels of corporate governance compliance; (2)Construction companies display lower levels of structural board independence and respect for stakeholders; (3)Compliance levels of construction companies are correlated with the number of employees and the ownership concentration; (4)Compliance levels of the whole sample companies are correlated with the factors representing firm size, such as turnover, capital and number of employees, but are independent of profitability as well as stock price volatility. The above empirical evidence characterizes the features of corporate governance in Taiwan listed construction companies, including: (1)Large companies lurking high risk of agency problems have more willingness to conduct corporate governance and meanwhile can afford higher costs for the conduction, so that their compliance level would be higher than smaller companies; (2)Construction companies in Taiwan have higher ownership concentration, on account of the industrial tradition of family business, and therefore pay less attention to the compliance with structural board independence and respect for stakeholders. However, the conclusions indicate that further studies are essential to clarify whether the above disparities would lead to a negative cycle of corporate governance practice in construction industry. The benefits of corporate governance should unfold more evidently to convince construction companies for improving their investment environment and stimulating their healthy growth.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2023

The rare metals used as raw materials in high-tech industries undergo changes in demand structures and supply chains following domestic industrial structural shifts and technological advancements, exhibiting high price volatility. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically analyze changes in the demand structures of rare metals. Since domestic demand for most rare metals relies on imports in Korea, the changes in domestic demand for rare metals can be identified by analyzing changes in their trade structure. In the present study, we analyze the changes in trade volume, trade growth rate, trade rankings, and trading countries from 2000 to 2022 for 35 rare metals, categorized into five types-ores, metals, alloys, compounds, and scrap. The trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea has generally increased since the 2000s, except for a significant decline in 2009 and 2016. The total trade volume, encompassing both exports and imports, has increased by approximately tenfold in 2022 compared to 2001. Until the mid-2010s, the trade of the raw materials of rare metals was primarily focused on those used in steel-manufacturing such as silicon, nickel, chrome, molybdenum, manganese, and others. However, after that period, there has been an increase in the trade of platinum group metals like palladium, rhodium, platinum, and the raw materials of rare metals for secondary battery-manufacturing such as lithium and cobalt. Particularly in 2022, lithium has become the largest share in trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea, due to the price surge and increase in demand.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.133-145
• /
• 2023

This paper examines whether investors have adapted to the venture capital(VC) investment style. VC firms invest in privately held companies and generate returns by selling them after the lock-up period expires. We analyze the impact on stock prices before and after the lock-up period expiration, and compare the Cumulative Abnormal Return(CAR) between the past period(2015-2017) and the recent period(2020-2022) to investigate the effect of the second venture boom. The main findings are as follows. First, unlike in the past, stock price returns around the lock-up period expiration have been lower than the KOSDAQ index in recent years. Second, the impact on stock prices is significant for both 1-month and 12-month lock-up periods. Specifically, it is confirmed that stocks held by venture capital and professional investors with a 1-month lock-up period respond in advance to their information after the second venture boom. Finally, we find that there is a difference in CAR depending on whether or not the company received VC investment after the second venture boom. Based on our findings, we suggest that VC firms need to revise their exit strategies to improve performance. This includes finding ways to reduce information asymmetry and fees, as well as developing strategies to mitigate market volatility. Additionally, the current lock-up period for VCs should be reconsidered as it may increase the risk of stock price decline. We recommend that the government revise the scope and duration of lock-up periods to protect investors after IPO.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.273-284
• /
• 2024

This study investigates the impact of international oil price fluctuations on overseas construction orders secured by domestic and foreign companies. The analysis employs statistical data spanning the past 20 years, encompassing international oil prices, overseas construction orders from domestic firms, and new overseas construction orders from the top 250 global construction companies. The correlation between these variables is assessed using correlation coefficients(R), determination coefficients(R²), and p-values. The results indicate a strong positive correlation between international oil prices and overseas construction orders. The correlation coefficient between domestic overseas construction orders and oil prices is found to be 0.8 or higher, signifying a significant influence. Similarly, a high correlation coefficient of 0.76 is observed between oil prices and new orders from leading global construction companies. Further analysis reveals a particularly strong correlation between oil prices and overseas construction orders in Asia and the Middle East, potentially due to the prevalence of oil-related projects in these regions. Additionally, a high correlation is observed between oil prices and orders for industrial facilities compared to architectural projects. This suggests an increase in plant construction volumes driven by fluctuations in oil prices. Based on these findings, the study proposes an entry strategy for navigating oil price volatility and maintaining competitiveness in the overseas construction market. Key recommendations include diversifying project locations and supplier bases; utilizing hedging techniques for exchange rate risk management, adapting to local infrastructure and market conditions, establishing local partnerships and securing skilled local labor, implementing technological innovations and digitization at construction sites to enhance productivity and cost reduction The insights gained from this study, coupled with the proposed overseas expansion strategies, offer valuable guidance for mitigating risks in the global construction market and fostering resilience in response to international oil price fluctuations. This approach is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic and foreign construction firms seeking success in the international arena.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2020

In the shipping industry, it is essential to engage in the preemptive prediction of freight rate volatility through market monitoring. Considering that freight rates have already started to fall, the loss of shipping companies will soon be uncontrollable. Therefore, in this study, factors affecting the freight rates of bulk carriers, which have relatively large freight rate volatility as compared to container freight rates, were quantified and analyzed. In doing so, we intended to contribute to future shipping market monitoring. We performed an analysis using a vector error correction model and estimated the influence of six independent variables on the charter rates of bulk carriers by Handy Size, Supramax, Panamax, and Cape Size. The six independent variables included the bulk carrier fleet volume, iron ore traffic volume, ribo interest rate, bunker oil price, and Euro-Dollar exchange rate. The dependent variables were handy size (32,000 DWT) spot charter rates, Supramax 6 T/C average charter rates, Pana Max (75,000 DWT) spot charter, and Cape Size (170,000 DWT) spot charter. The study examined charter rates by size of bulk carriers, which was different from studies on existing specific types of ships or fares in oil tankers and chemical carriers other than bulk carriers. Findings revealed that influencing factors differed for each ship size. The Libo interest rate had a significant effect on all four ship types, and the iron ore traffic volume had a significant effect on three ship types. The Ribo rate showed a negative (-) relationship with Handy Size, Supramax, Panamax, and Cape Size. Iron ore traffic influenced three types of linearity, except for Panamax. The size of shipping companies differed depending on their characteristics. These findings are expected to contribute to the establishment of a management strategy for shipping companies by analyzing the factors influencing changes in the freight rates of charterers, which have a profound effect on the management performance of shipping companies.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.234-252
• /
• 2010

This paper examines the tendency of housing assets to become increasingly quasi-financial assets by analyzing the relationships between risks and returns in three Gangnam districts (Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu and Songpa-gu) apartment markets in Seoul, especially for the apartments to be reconstructed, capitalizing upon some capital asset pricing models (CAPM). A single factor CAPM model shows positive relationships between risks and returns regardless of the types of apartments in three Gangnam districts. Multi-factors CAPM models also confirm that the market and SMB (small minus big) factors are positively related to the rate of returns regardless of the types of apartments. However, the unsystematic risk factor is found to be statistically positive especially for the apartments to be reconstructed, while the momentum factor is dependent upon the regression models used. An analysis on some portfolios classified by the size of apartments and price volatility and/or beta values suggests that there are the positive linear relationships between risks and returns and the SMB factor is clearly found to be significant in determining the rate of returns. In particular, housing assets are highly highlighted as investment goods and/or quasi financial assets for the apartments to be constructed in the Gangnam housing.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2015

Purpose - This paper's aim is to investigate whether or not gross profitability explains the cross-sectional variation of the stock returns in the Korean stock market. Gross profitability is an alternative profitability measure proposed by Novy-Marx in 2013 to predict cross-sectional variation of stock returns in the US. He shows that the gross profitability adds explanatory power to the Fama-French 3 factor model. Interestingly, gross profitability is negatively correlated with the book-to-market ratio. By confirming the gross profitability premium in the Korean stock market, we may provide some implications regarding the well-known value premium. In addition, our empirical results may provide opportunities for the fund distribution industry to promote brand new styles of funds. Research design, data, and methodology - For our empirical analysis, we collect monthly market prices of all the companies listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) of the Korea Exchanges (KRX). Our sample period covers July1994 to December2014. The data from the company financial statementsare provided by the financial information company WISEfn. First, using Fama-Macbeth cross-sectional regression, we investigate the relation between gross profitability and stock return performance. For robustness in analyzing the performance of the gross profitability strategy, we consider value weighted portfolio returns as well as equally weighted portfolio returns. Next, using Fama-French 3 factor models, we examine whether or not the gross profitability strategy generates excess returns when firmsize and the book-to-market ratio are controlled. Finally, we analyze the effect of firm size and the book-to-market ratio on the gross profitability strategy. Results - First, through the Fama-MacBeth cross-sectional regression, we show that gross profitability has almost the same explanatory power as the book-to-market ratio in explaining the cross-sectional variation of the Korean stock market. Second, we find evidence that gross profitability is a statistically significant variable for explaining cross-sectional stock returns when the size and the value effect are controlled. Third, we show that gross profitability, which is positively correlated with stock returns and firm size, is negatively correlated with the book-to-market ratio. From the perspective of portfolio management, our results imply that since the gross profitability strategy is a distinctive growth strategy, value strategies can be improved by hedging with the gross profitability strategy. Conclusions - Our empirical results confirm the existence of a gross profitability premium in the Korean stock market. From the perspective of the fund distribution industry, the gross profitability portfolio is worthy of attention. Since the value strategy portfolio returns are negatively correlated with the gross profitability strategy portfolio returns, by mixing both portfolios, investors could be better off without additional risk. However, the profitable firms are dissimilar from the value firms (high book-to-market ratio firms); therefore, an alternative factor model including gross profitability may help us understand the economic implications of the well-known anomalies such as value premium, momentum, and low volatility. We reserve these topics for future research.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.263-285
• /
• 2011

Despite the process of neoliberalization has made a decisive influence on our society as a whole, there seems little interests in neoliberal urbanization and entrepreneurial urban projects promoting it. This study is to see relationships between neolibealization process and recent urbanization and urban policies in terms of entrepreneurial city mediating them. In particular, this paper tries to reconceptualize entrepreneurial city as corresponding to privatization and commodification, financialization, state redistribution, and management and manipulation of crises which Harvey(2005) suggests as four main features of neoliberalization process in general and 'accumulation by dispossession' in particular, and to characterize it in terms of 'creative destruction' and of 'entrepreneurial governance'. As examined in the later part of this paper, recent cases of these entrepreneurial urban projects in S. Korea include volatility of land and housing price in the Capital region and urban regeneration and newtown projects, project for free economic zones construction in Incheon and other 5 regions, project for SOC construction heavily relying on private investment, in particular project financing pursued nationwidely including Daegu, and project of urban cultural marketing to promote capital inflow tacitly as well as to enhance urban imagine explicitly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.168-175
• /
• 2020

Recently, there has been an increasing need to expand the supply of renewable energy as a solution to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, as a measure to promote domestic renewable energy investment and gradual expansion, this study analyzed the investment value of renewable energy projects utilizing the unoccupied spaces of public enterprise's facilities and presented a strategic decision-making framework to support efficient national land development and government measures. The NPV was estimated to be 286 million won if the expansion of the facility was not considered, but it is reasonable to postpone the expansion decision because the value of -130 million won was calculated if the expansion was considered. On the other hand, the real-option value was estimated to be 444 million won, taking SMP uncertainty, expansion, and abandonment options into account, and an additional value of 288 million won was calculated from an analysis of the expansion project using the existing NPV analysis.