John Law and the Mississippi Bubble
The Mississippi bubble is one of the biggest asset bubbles known to the modern world. This bubble first led France out of bankruptcy and straight into prosperity. Then this same bubble caused the opposite to happen, bankrupted France and gave an impetus to the revolution. This bubble was created when John Law, a renegade Scotsman […]
Housing Finance
The purpose of financial resources is to mobilize savings. In most cases, these savings are generated by households and are utilized by the business sector. However, in some cases, savings generated by the household sector are required by other participants of the household sector. The biggest example of this is the housing sector. In most […]
Financial Impact of Returns on Retail Policy
Most of the players in the online as well as offline retail industry have a clearly defined retail policy. It is considered to be an important part of business for most players in the retail industry. A lot of retailers don’t give much thought while creating this policy and such policies are often created based […]
Valuation of a Sports Franchise: Market Approach
In the previous articles, we have already come across a couple of methods used for the valuation of a sports franchise. However, we know that both of those methods have certain shortcomings which make them unsuitable for the valuation of a sports franchise. In this article, we will discuss a third approach called the market […]
The Economics of Blue Bonds
Oceans account for over 70% of the surface area of the earth. This makes them important for life as well as for commerce. More than 90% of the international cargo around the world passes through water. Also, millions of people depend upon the ocean for their livelihood. Tourism and fishing and many other such occupations […]
The following explanation will help in understanding each finance function in detail
One of the most important finance functions is to intelligently allocate capital to long term assets. This activity is also known as capital budgeting.
It is important to allocate capital in those long term assets so as to get maximum yield in future. Following are the two aspects of investment decision
Since the future is uncertain therefore there are difficulties in calculation of expected return.
Along with uncertainty comes the risk factor which has to be taken into consideration. This risk factor plays a very significant role in calculating the expected return of the prospective investment.
Therefore while considering investment proposal it is important to take into consideration both expected return and the risk involved.
Investment decision not only involves allocating capital to long term assets but also involves decisions of using funds which are obtained by selling those assets which become less profitable and less productive.
It is a wise decision to decompose depreciated assets which are not adding value and utilize those funds in securing other beneficial assets.
An opportunity cost of capital needs to be calculating while dissolving such assets. The correct cut off rate is calculated by using this opportunity cost of the required rate of return (RRR)
Financial decision is yet another important function which a financial manger must perform. It is important to make wise decisions about when, where and how should a business acquire funds.
Funds can be acquired through many ways and channels. Broadly speaking a correct ratio of an equity and debt has to be maintained. This mix of equity capital and debt is known as a firm’s capital structure.
A firm tends to benefit most when the market value of a company’s share maximizes this not only is a sign of growth for the firm but also maximizes shareholders wealth. On the other hand the use of debt affects the risk and return of a shareholder. It is more risky though it may increase the return on equity funds.
A sound financial structure is said to be one which aims at maximizing shareholders return with minimum risk. In such a scenario the market value of the firm will maximize and hence an optimum capital structure would be achieved.
Other than equity and debt there are several other tools which are used in deciding a firm capital structure.
Earning profit or a positive return is a common aim of all the businesses. But the key function a financial manger performs in case of profitability is to decide whether to distribute all the profits to the shareholder or retain all the profits or distribute part of the profits to the shareholder and retain the other half in the business.
It’s the financial manager’s responsibility to decide a optimum dividend policy which maximizes the market value of the firm. Hence an optimum dividend payout ratio is calculated.
It is a common practice to pay regular dividends in case of profitability. Another way is to issue bonus shares to existing shareholders.
It is very important to maintain a liquidity position of a firm to avoid insolvency. Firm’s profitability, liquidity and risk all are associated with the investment in current assets.
In order to maintain a tradeoff between profitability and liquidity it is important to invest sufficient funds in current assets. But since current assets do not earn anything for business therefore a proper calculation must be done before investing in current assets.
Current assets should properly be valued and disposed of from time to time once they become non profitable. Currents assets must be used in times of liquidity problems and times of insolvency.
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