While various linear and nonlinear forecasting models exist, multivariate methods like VAR, Exponential smoothing, and Box-Jenkins' ARIMA methodology constitute the widely used methods in time series. This paper employs series of Turkish private consumption, exports and GDP data ranging between 1998: Q1 and 2017: Q4 to analyze the forecast performance of the three models using measures of accuracy such as RMSE, MAE, MAPE, Theil's U 1 and U 2 . Seasonal decomposition and ADF unit root tests were performed to obtain new deseasonalized series and stationarity, respectively. Results offer preference for the use of ARIMA in forecasting, having performed better than VAR and exponential smoothing in all scenarios. Additionally, VAR model provided better forecast accuracy than exponential smoothing on all measures of accuracy except on Thiel's U 2 whose VAR values were not computed. Cautionary use of ARIMA for forecasting is recommended.

Symmetric and asymmetric GARCH models-GARCH (1,1), PARCH (1,1), EGARCH (1,1), TARCH (1,1) and IGARCH (1,1) were used to examine stylized facts of daily USD/UGX return series from September 01, 2005 to August 30, 2018. Modeling and forecasting were performed based on Gaussian, Student's t and GED distribution densities to identify the best distribution for examining stylized facts about the volatility of returns. Initial tests of heteroscedasticity (ARCH-LM), autocorrelation and stationarity were carried out to establish specific data requirements before modeling. Results for conditional variance indicated the presence of significant asymmetries, volatility clustering, leptokurtic distribution, and leverage effects. Effectively, PARCH (1,1) under GED distribution provided highly significant results free from serial correlation and ARCH effects, thus revealing the asymmetric responsiveness and persistence to shocks. Forecasting was performed across distributions and assessed based on symmetric lost functions (RMSE, MAE, MAPE and Thiel's U) and information criteria (AIC, SBC and Loglikelihood). Information criteria offered preference for EGARCH (1,1) under GED distribution while symmetric lost functions provided very competitive choices with very slight precedence for GARCH (1,1) and EGARCH (1,1) under GED distribution. Following these results, we recommend PARCH (1,1) and EGARCH (1,1) for modeling and forecasting volatility with preference to GED distribution. Given the asymmetric responsiveness and persistence of conditional variance, macroeconomic fiscal adjustments in addition to stabilization of the internal political environment are advised for Uganda.

We study the relationship between heuristics and the performance of financial institutions in South Sudan using measures of institutional performance and heuristics. Using the ARDL model, we establish that heuristics indicators such as anchoring, availability, and halo effect negatively and significantly affect the performance of financial institutions while disaster neglect and overconfidence seem not to significantly exactly influence the performance of financial institutions in South Sudan. On the other hand, confirmation seems to significantly affect the performance of financial institutions in the country.

We study the relationship between Credit Risk Management and the performance of financial institutions in South Sudan using measures of institutional performance and Credit Risk Management. Using the ARDL model, we establish compliance with the basel accord significantly affecting the performance of finance institutions while monitoring corporate credit risk and risk management environment seem not to significantly exact influence the performance of financial institutions in South Sudan. On the other hand, credit risk operational practices seem to negatively and insignificantly affect the performance of financial institutions in the country.