The Japanese Verb Conjugations of Matsu

If youre in a Japanese-speaking community, knowing the Japanese word for to wait can come in handy in terms of everyday interactions. Maybe youre running late to a social event and need to apologize for keeping people waiting, or perhaps you have to push back a meeting at work for a few minutes. Maybe the host at a restaurant needs to ask you to wait before being seated.   These charts will help you learn about verb groups and conjugations for the Japanese verb matsu, which means to wait. If you are not familiar with Japanese verb groups and conjugations, it is recommended that you click  here  for a review before you learn individual verb conjugations. Matsu Verb Conjugation matsu (to wait): Group 1   Informal Present(Dictionary Form) matsu Formal Present(~ masu Form) machimasu Informal Past (~ ta Form) matta Formal Past machimashita Informal Negative(~ nai Form) matanai Formal Negative machimasen Informal Past Negative matanakatta Formal Past Negative machimasen deshita ~ te Form matte Conditional mateba Volitional matou Passive matareru Causative mataseru Potential materu Imperative(Command) mate Sentence Examples Matasete gomennasai. I am sorry to keep you waiting. Koko de matte kudasai. Please wait here. Mou sukoshi materu? Can you wait a little longer?

The Investment Analysis and Strategy of the Coca-Cola Company Research Paper

Essays on The Investment Analysis and Strategy of the Coca-Cola Company Research Paper ï » ¿ The Investment Analysis and Strategy of the Coca-Cola Company 1.Computation of the Rate of Expected Return for Coca-Cola Company E(RKO): Coca-Cola Company (KO) shares, as shown above, are relatively low-risk, low-return assets. Its beta, at 0.61, accordingly reflects that investing in KO involves systematic risks that are lower than the prevailing market risk. It further means that KO shares, in the course of trading, are bound to be less volatile than the market as a whole. (Reilly Brown 1997:289) The relatively stable nature of KO shares, however, cannot bring about higher returns. This observation is in agreement with the accepted rule regarding the risk and returns. Generally, the expected return rates to be generated by securities increase as the risks that the investment is exposed to increase as well. This is known to be applicable up to certain limited levels of risks and returns. The prevailing adverse economic conditions have further contributed to the low expected returns of KO shares. Risk-free rates of treasury bills are at their lowest point these days and market rates of return even of a blue chip like KO cannot be exempted from the general slowdown of business. The average dividend yield of KO, then, has lowered. All these slumped returns resulted to the computed expected returns of only 1.69% for KO. Particulars Assumptions Risk-Free Rate (RFR) 0.18% RFR is pegged at the 3-month Treasury rate, per Bloomberg. Beta (ßKO) 0.60 The beta figure is taken from the Google Finance website. Please see attached Excel file. Market Rate of Return (RM) 2.70% RM is assumed to be equal to the 5-year average dividend yield of KO, per Yahoo! Finance. E(RKO) = RFR + ßKO (RM - RFR) = 0.18% + (0.60) (2.70% - 0.18%) = 0.18% + (0.60) (2.52%) = 0.18% + 1.512% = 1.69% 2. Systematic Risk Factors Concerning Discount Rates Systematic risks can never be totally eliminated. They arise from continuing attempts of portfolio managers to make their respective portfolios as diversified as possible to hopefully spread out the risk and to avoid those big risks associated with putting all of one’s eggs in just one basket. Thus, while their portfolios are never totally free from risks, they become subject to yet another risk – one that stemmed from the so-called â€Å"co-movements† of paired assets that were simultaneously borrowed and lent by two parties. Technically, systematic risk pertains to a part of an asset’s variance that is not caused by the asset on its own but, instead, by the market portfolio as a whole. They cover economic, political, technology and business risks, among others. (Reilly Brown 1997:22) Just as returns vary according to risks involved and vice versa, discount rates for projects are set in different ranges that match the different systematic risk factors that are taken into account during the finalization of the packaged project. Portfolio managers and analysts employ different mechanisms in their attempts to make sure that all possible factors that may contribute to the overall risk of investing in an asset are well accounted for or are imputed in the return rates to be used in the course of security trading and similar transactions. One such mechanism is the close monitoring of the security market indices. A good number of those who need to forecast as accurately as possible the movements of stock prices, currencies, bonds and treasury interests and other variables that can significantly affect the total market values of their respective investment portfolios and funds seriously study the security market indices (Reilly Brown 1997:152). They closely watch these indices – stock market indices, hedge fund indices, etc. – as if the securities making up their portfolios would increase or decrease in value in unison with their selected indices. Institutional investors on look out for relatively conservative investments, as well, track the movement of indices as a way to measure the levels of risks that currently prevail in the securities markets (Amenc Goltz 2008:50). However, risks cannot be determined by the movements of indices alone. Discounts that are set based on analyses of indices, therefore, can turn out to be grossly miscalculated. This practice can be improved if decision-makers in the finance world would do well to remember that the indices can sometimes be influenced by just a few select securities on any given day at the bourse. The indices, therefore, do not necessarily relay the true picture of a particular security or of an entire industry. These indices are products of interrelated securities put together by different selected criteria and methods of computations. (Brooks Kat 2002:30) For one, the companies behind the indices were selected based on the sizes of their capitalization. Among companies that are publicly listed, those with the biggest capital figures in their respective industries have been made part of the indices. However, there could have been other equally important criteria for such selection, such as the averag e profitability rates and the financial leverages of the companies (Amec Goltz 2008: 56). The limitations and complexities that indices represent should sufficiently warn investors and analysts about how to interpret them in relation to the market, the industries and the specific securities that make up each of them. It would be wise to remember that markets do not always behave rationally. The daily fluctuations of the different indices of the financial markets across the globe cannot always be justified by valid and fundamental reasons. Authors Amenc and Goltz firmly also point out that the various indices for both equity and hedge fund markets are heterogenerous and that this presents a â€Å"problem of representativeness† (2008:54) that analysts should be wary of. Even stock indices of the same markets (e.g., SP and FTSE of New York Stock Exchange) have been proven to not agree on the average net returns of stocks for a given period. The systematic risk factors presented by one index would be indicative of a certain risk level; then another index of the same securities market would be naming an altogether different risk level. Thus, decision-makers setting discount rates for projects of even the same risk levels could actually end up adapting different rates plainly because they did not use the same specific index. This commonly used mechanism for setting rates turns out to yield no definite answers. Meanwhile, some analysts deem it worth their while to make out existing patterns or relationships among the effective rates of returns that apply to securities of various countries such as America, United Kingdom and Japan. The comparability of the economic indicators of different countries, however, has remained to be questionable. After all, there are major inconsistencies that exist in the range of the accounting practices, the taxation laws and other considerable factors. (Aliber Click 1993:359) Basing decisions on trends of other countries – collective trends – is not an effective way to quantify the prevailing risks in any given country. The economic, political and cultural peculiarities of individual countries would constitute another case the â€Å"problem of representativeness† (Amenc and Goltz 2008:54) exists. The recommended way to examine systematic risk factors that would clearly define the levels of risks that companies are exposed to whenever they set discount rates is to zero in on the securities and the companies that issued them. On top of these, the sectors they respectively belong to and the economy in general would all have to be examined firsthand – and not through any selected index. Facts that should matter to investors are not always disclosed in the financial statements and annual reports of listed companies and those managing mutual and hedge funds. The lessons taught by Enron should ever be fresh in the minds of those in the position to make investment decisions. The Enron fiasco was totally expected and practically came out of nowhere. Nothing in the trends of then-current indices held out any warning or any slight sign that a financial catastrophe of such huge magnitude was on its way. Indeed, the market crash that ensued was akin to an unexpected, uninvited guest that forced his way in. Suddenly, the financial world was in chaos. A lot of discount rates previously set turned out to be the culprits responsible for the heavy losses of a number of funds and securities traded. The crisis happened as it did because nobody was looking. They knitted fiction and sold it off as real. (McLean Elkind 2004:219) To counter similar dilemmas, there is the need to advocate transparency among involved parties. Companies should disclose all relevant matters that can possibly affect the decisions of the various users of the financial information that they are mandated by law to provide. It has been pointed out that transparency should be viewed as a means to an end. Transparency per se will not help in determining what discount rates ought to be set for projects. But it can bring to the light the accurate information that discount rates should be based on. (Amenc and Goltz 2008:58) List of References Yahoo! Finance (2009) The Coca-Cola Company (KO) [online] available from [accessed 28 July 2009] Bloomberg (2009) Government Bonds: U.S. Treasuries [online] available from http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/rates/index.html [accessed 28 July 2009] Reilly, F. K. Brown (1997) Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management 5th Edition. Orlando, FL: The Dryden Press. Aliber, R. R. Click (1993) Readings in International Business: A Decision Approach. MIT Press. McLean, B. P. Elkind (2004) The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron. New York: The Penguin Group. Google Finance (2009) The Coca-Cola Company (KO) [online] available from http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:KO [accessed 28 July 2009] Amenc, N. F. Goltz (2008) ‘Revisiting the Limits of Hedge Fund Indices: A Comparative Approach. The Journal of Alternative Investments Spring Issue 50-63 Brooks, C. H. Kat (2002) ‘The Statistical Properties of Hedge Fund Indes Returns and Their Implications for Investors.’ Journal of Alternative Investments 5, 26-44

Citi Group Restructuring Free Essays

Background It all began with the financial crisis of 2007-2008, a crisis which was of a scale that had never been seen before. Many economists called it even worse than the Great Depression. Whether it was or not, that’s something that could be argued. We will write a custom essay sample on Citi Group Restructuring or any similar topic only for you Order Now But everyone was of the view that the crisis is really very serious. As a result of it large financial institutions collapsed, banks were being bailed out by the national governments and stock markets tanked to their new lows. This caused the collapse of housing markets in many countries, consumer spending suffered immensely as a result, industries went bankrupt, businesses closed down and unemployment peaked. There were many reasons that were put forth by various economists. A report presented in the US senate called it as the â€Å"failure of regulators, credit agencies and markets†. Citigroup’s Sufferings According to a US government’s report which came into the light in 2011, Citigroup which was the third largest US bank in terms of assets at that time was on the verge of failure. Regulators were going to pull the plugs on it anytime as depositors were withdrawing their deposits and bank’s counterparties also declined to give credits to the bank. How Citigroup moved to new setup? Citigroup suffered losses for five consecutive quarters. In the fifth quarter, in fact its losses were to the tune of $ 8. 29 billion. Many in the Citigroup agreed to the fact that unless something is done to sharpen its strategy, Citigroup will never regain its glory and perform accordingly. As a result, Citigroup started analyzing its business and strategies. It was found that Citigroup was involved in too many business segments which stopped it from focusing on its core interest area. While analyzing, everything big or small was examined. Citigroup in its annual report called the analysis as â€Å"wide ranging and dispassionate†. The outcome of this analysis was that the Citigroup finally decided to realign the group’s various business interests in two broad segments: Citicorp and Citi Holdings. The thinking behind this new setup was that this structure will help the company focus on its core business areas which in turn would improve the overall performance, while at the same time realizing the value from its non-core assets. The new structure would look like this: In Citicorp, businesses which were core to the group’s strategy and which offered maximum earnings potential to its shareholders with appropriate risk parameters were placed. These businesses are: †¢ Global Transaction Services – Treasury and Trade Solutions Securities and Fund Services †¢ Securities and Banking – Global Banking – Global Markets – Citi Private Bank – Citi Capital Advisors †¢ Regional Consumer Banking – Four Regional Consumer Banks in North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), Latin America and Asia that each include retail banking, local commercial banking and Citi-branded cards (Source: http://www. citigroup. com/citi/in vestor/quarterly/2010) Citicorp, according to the new structure will be a relationship driven global bank, to serve both consumers and businesses. The assets of Citicorp include its core assets located across the globe with strong presence in emerging markets like India, China etc. Citicorp will have the capability to take deposits from customers throughout the world in a manner so that maximum return could be availed. Citicorp will have the capacity to serve local customers globally and global customers in a highly localized way. While in Citi Holdings, assets and businesses which were not central to Citi’s strategy were placed. But that does not mean that those assets were not good. Some have had very high value in their own right. Some were big iconic brands like Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture. Citi Holdings includes: †¢ Brokerage and Asset Management, which includes the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture †¢ Local Consumer Lending – North America, which includes residential and commercial real estate loans; auto, student and personal loans; and retail partner cards International, which includes Western Europe consumer banking and other consumer finance franchises around the world †¢ Special Asset Pool, which includes non-core assets, many of which are illiquid in current markets Citi Holdings will consist of non-core businesses which attract long term investments. But since those businesses are not the core one, therefore they do not enhance the performance of the group as a whole and in fact they compete for the limited resources that the company could employ in a h ighly risky and volatile situation. It was expected that the management team of Citi Holdings will restructure, divest and manage its business in a way that maximizes the value and will take the group forward in a tough economic situation Vikram Pandit, then CEO of Citigroup in one of his interview talked about â€Å"accelerating the implementation of its newly evolved strategy to focus on its core business†. Given the market conditions and business sentiments, Vikram Pandit wanted to streamline the business of Citigroup as soon as possible to further strengthen its position and better serve its clients. How to cite Citi Group Restructuring, Papers

Autobiography of an Atom free essay sample

pADVENTURES of an Atom By: Nicole Zemaitis Atom-Smallest particle of an element that retains the properties of the element. Scientific discovery is how the present day Atomic Theory was made up. The current atomic theory was formed by different scientists over many years, each scientist building on or proving theories wrong. Democritus 460-370 B. C. Narrative: Hello! My name is Anna the Atom. I’m writing to you to describe the journey I went on to figure out the present day Atomic Theory. My father’s name is Democritus. He was the one who named me.I never really had a close relationship with him though, he didn’t really understand me. That’s why I moved out when I was young. I wanted to travel the world to visit my family members and see if they could tell me all about, well, me. Description: He believed matter was made up of tiny particles called â€Å"atomos†. We will write a custom essay sample on Autobiography of an Atom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He thought atoms couldn’t be created, destroyed or divided. Most of his ideas were proven untrue, although his discovery of the atom was definitely true. Dalton 1766-1844 Narrative: The first relative I visited after I moved out of my dad’s house was my Uncle Dalton.Uncle Dalton knew a LOT about me. He told me about how matter is made up of people like me! He also told me some things my dad had already told me, which I guess meant they were true! Uncle Dalton seemed to have a lot of information to offer me at first, but after a little while, his house got boring. That’s when I decided to move on and visit another family member. Scientific Evidence: Dalton used Democritus’ ideas and revised them to develop the Atomic Theory. Thanks to advancements in technology, Dalton was able to test refine Democritus’ theories. Description