This study examined the relationship between Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) and Corporate Social Responsibility Performance (CSRP). Furthermore, it explored the effectiveness of chief executive characteristics as a moderator in the CFP-CSRP nexus. We employed a dynamic sysGMM regression model on 2,439 firm-year observations of Chinese firms. The results reveal that CFP (market-based) has a significant positive impact on CSRP. However, CFP (historical) is significantly negatively related to CSRP. Furthermore, the study found that CEO turnover and CEO duality negatively moderate the CFP-CSRP relationship, while CEO as CFO positively moderates this relationship. The findings have substantial implications for all stakeholders, including investors, CEOs, corporate regulators, and policymakers.

The proportionate use of energy represents economic activity as well as environmental degradation. This study intends to examine the volatility spillover of environmental fluctuations (energy prices) to the stock markets of south Asian countries (i.e., Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan). In this regard, the data have been gathered from the Thomson Reuters DataStream from 2013 to 2021. This study has applied the Granger causality test and ARCH-GARCH (1, 1). It concludes that the bidirectional causality exists between the environmental prices (i.e., energy market) and Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India stock markets (BSE-100, DSE-30, and KSE-100, respectively). The empirical findings of this study show that there are volatility spillovers from the energy to the stock markets of Pakistan and India. On the other hand, no volatility spillover is observed from the energy to the stock market of Bangladesh. Moreover, the study implies that investors should invest in these stock markets to reduce the risk involved with diversification.

Regional Trade agreements (RTAs) are increasing worldwide because of associated economic benefits such as increased cross border investment and trade, development and integration markets. This paper investigates how South Asian Free TradeAgreement (SAFTA) impact on the integration of South Asian capital markets. Weekly data of capital market indices of three countries (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) have been analyzed for overall (1998-2017) and two sub periods, 1998-2006 (Pre SAFTA) and 2009-2017. Correlation coefficients, Unit root tests and Johansen and Juselius (JJ) Cointegration technique has been applied to access the integration between the markets. The main findings suggest that integration between the South Asian capital markets has been increased in Post-SAFTA period. The evidence that SAFTA pact results in increased integration of regional capital markets has important implications for investors and policymakers.