Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of heuristic biases, namely, availability bias and representativeness bias on investors’ investment decisions in the Pakistan stock exchange, as well as the moderating role of long-term orientation. Design/methodology/approach Using a structured questionnaire, a total of 374 responses have been collected from individual investors trading in PSX. The relationship was tested by applying the partial least square structural equation model using SmartPLS 3.2.2. Further, Henseler and Chin’s (2010) product indicator approach for moderation analysis was applied to the data set. Findings The results revealed that availability bias and representativeness bias have a significant and positive influence on the investment decisions of investors. Furthermore, a significant moderating effect of long term orientation on the effect of representativeness bias on investment decision is observed. This suggests that investors’ long term orientation weaken the effect of representativeness bias on investment decision. However, no significant moderating effect was observed for availability bias. Originality/value The paper provides novel insights on the role of heuristic-driven biases on the investment decisions of individual investors in the stock market. Particularly, it enhanced the understanding of behavioral aspects of investment decision-making in an emerging market.

PurposeRelying on the stakeholder view, this study investigates the role of CSR committee in moderating the association between CSR and firm performance (FP). Further, the authors examine whether country-specific governance and institutional factors drive the effect of CSR committee on the CSR-FP association.Design/methodology/approachThe study's sample includes 4405 firms from 39 countries over the period 2002–2020. For analysis, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression with year and firm fixed effects is employed as the primary econometric model. Two-step generalized method of movement (GMM) is employed to address the endogeneity issues.FindingsThis study provides international evidence that the existence of a CSR committee enhances CSR's contribution to FP. Moreover, the benefits of CSR committees in terms of enhancing the positive impact of CSR on FP are significantly greater in strong governance countries and in environmentally less sensitive industries. The findings are further checked through endogeneity and robustness tests and remain unchanged.Practical implicationsCSR committee is a key governance mechanism that assists firms in generating value from their CSR activities. It strengthens a firm's relations with the stakeholders via an effective CSR channel, which translates into improved FP and long-term value.Originality/valueThe study is the first attempt to investigate the role of CSR committee, as a corporate governance mechanism, in explaining the relationship between CSR and FP in the international context. Further, the study also found that the role of CSR committee in enhancing CSR's outcomes largely depends on country-specific governance factors and the nature of industries.

Purpose This study examined the effect of leverage, debt maturity on corporate financial performance of non-financial firms listed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Targeted population of this study was 100 firm listed at PSX as KSE-100 index out of which 74 non-financial firms were selected from 28 different sectors for the period of 5 years 2013 to 2017. Design/Methodology/Approach: Financial performance measured by ROA, ROE, while leverage, short term leverage, long term leverage taken as independent variables, four variables were taken as control which are size, current ratio, sale growth, tangibility. On the basis of Hausman test, results of random effect model were found appropriate. Findings: ST and LT Leverage have a negative significant and insignificant effect on financial performance (ROA) respectively, moreover long term leverage has a positive and significant but short has a negative and insignificant effect on ROE. The results of the control variables showed that size has a negative and significant effect on ROA and ROE, whereas current ratio has insignificant and negative effect on ROA, ROE. Sale growth has a positive and insignificant effect on firms ROA and ROE. Tangibility has insignificant and negative effect on financial performance. Implications/Originality/Value: This study is consistent with traditional trade-off theory and recommended that management of the non-financial firms listed at the PSX should employ minimal debt level or use an optimal level of capital structure and also to attract good management thus to improve their financial performance.

Dividend decision is one of the very crucial factors that have a bearing on the long-term value of a firm. According to the traditional approach, firms that pay larger dividends happen to have escalated share prices compared to those that pay lower or no dividends. There have been previous studies conducted to explore what factors make a firm pay or ignore paying dividends for a given year. However, no consensus has been achieved so far by the researchers as to what really determines a firm"s dividend payout decision. This study is an attempt to re-examine some of the very major considerations a firm takes into account while deciding about the declaration, or otherwise, of dividends. To serve the purpose, the required financial information was obtained from "Financial Statement Analysis" of Non-financial companies published by the State Bank of Pakistan. Sixty one (61) firms were included in the sample having thorough six year financial data ranging from 2006 to 2011 which led to a total of 366 firm-year observations. Results of the study showed that out of the factors analyzed, Liquidity and Profitability had a significant association with the dividend payout policy of firms in the sample. Hence, it may be concluded that the two mentioned factors are the major determinants of a firm"s dividend policy.

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