Inspired by the studies on the impact of diversity among decision-making groups, this study was carried out to examine whether the diversity of the members of the board of directors, encompassing gender, nationality, education, and experience, moderates the relationship between the corporate governance and investment decisions of listed companies of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Furthermore, the determinants of investment decisions in the context of Pakistani firms’ are also explored. Panel data analysis techniques are used to gauge the cause and effect relationship among the variables. We find short-term liquidity and profitability are the determinants of Pakistani firms’ investment decisions, both having adverse relationships. Moreover, we explore board independence, and chief executive officer (CEO) duality has a significant positive impact on investment decisions. We further find that experience diversity strongly moderates the relationship between board independence and board size with investment decisions in the opposite direction. Education diversity moderates the relation of board size and investment decisions in the same direction. Foreign directors’ presence on the board also significantly moderates the relationship between board independence and investment decisions. The results of this empirical study confirm that board diversity moderates the relationship between corporate governance and investment decisions.

This study evaluates the moderating role of diversity in the board of directors on the relationship between Corporate Governance and dividend decisions of listed companies of Pakistan. This study further explores relationship between conventional accounting variables and dividend decisions. Multifaceted diversity of the board of directors encompassing age, experience and nationality is examined. Panel Data Analysis is used to measure the cause and effect relationship among the variables. General to specific modelling is used by including all the potential regressors. Results depict that Firm Size, Leverage and Experience Diversity of Board negatively effects the Dividend Decisions, while Earnings per Share, CEO Duality, Directors Nationality and Age effects positively. Furthermore Age and Nationality Diversity of directors significantly moderate the relationship between Corporate Governance and Dividend Decisions.

Purpose: The study evaluates the performance of alternative variance-covariance estimators as a fundamental ingredient to portfolio optimization. Methodology: The study estimates eleven covariance matrices on the data of Pakistan stock exchange's non-financial sector firms covering the period from July 2006 to June 2020. The accuracy and efficiency of covariance estimators are assessed through two evaluation parameters: root mean square error and minimum variance portfolios (risk behavior). Main findings: Empirical findings based on evaluation parameters suggest that more complex covariance estimators in the equity market of Pakistan yield no additional financial gains than the equally weighted portfolio of estimators. Application of the study: As the estimation of the variance-covariance matrix is one of the essential elements of portfolio construction, this study guides investor(s) on selecting an appropriate covariance estimator among eleven estimators endorsed by literature. Novelty/ originality of the study: Based on detailed analysis, the study documents that investor(s) of the Pakistan stock exchange cannot gain any additional benefit from more complex and tricky methods of variance-covariance estimators compared to a portfolio of estimators for the non-financial sector. Investors are advised to consider the equally weighted portfolio of estimators when formulating their investment strategy.