Purpose -In this paper the authors aim to study the impact of customer demographics on service value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in the private banking industry, i.e. a high-involvement context. Design/methodology/approach -The authors estimate a structural equation model with the help of partial least squares (PLS). In order to examine the influence of socio-demographic variables, they conduct an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for differences in the means of the constructs. Furthermore, they conduct an analysis of mediation to test for an indirect influence of service value on customer loyalty. Findings -The authors find that customer satisfaction has a strong positive impact on customer loyalty. However, service value has no significant direct effect on customer loyalty; the impact of service value on customer loyalty is completely mediated by customer satisfaction. With regards to customer demographics, the authors find significant differences in mean scores as to employment status, type of private banking service provider, and size of liquid assets. Research limitations/implications -Further research should analyse potential moderating effects of different customer-related variables. A replication study should be conducted in order to underline the authors' findings. Practical implications -The authors find significant differences for customer satisfaction and customer loyalty ratings as to employment status and size of liquid assets. Hence, managers should focus on high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals as these segments show higher satisfaction and loyalty ratings. Furthermore, customers should be segmented as to employment status in addition to size of liquid assets. Originality/value -The authors conduct their analysis in a high-involvement setting. Using a unique sample of 286 questionnaires of private banking customers, they find direct effects of sociodemographic variables on service value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. Thus, the authors' findings have important implications for managers in the private banking industry and marketing researchers alike.

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Rare earth elements (REEs) have become increasingly important because of their relative scarcity and worldwide increasing demand, as well as China's quasi-monopoly of this market. REEs are virtually not substitutable, and they are essential for a variety of hightech products and modern key technologies. This has raised serious concerns that China will misuse its dominant position to set export quotas in order to maximize its own profits at the expense of other rare earth user industries (wealth transfer motive). In fact, export restrictions on REEs were the catalyst for the U.S. to lodge a formal complaint against China in 2012 at the WTO. This paper analyzes possible wealth transfer effects by focusing on export quota announcements (so-called MOFCOM announcements) by China, and the share price reactions of Chinese REE suppliers, U.S. REE users, and the rest of the world REE refiners. Overall, we find limited support for the view of a wealth transfer in connection with MOFCOM announcements only when disentangling events prior to and post the initiation of the WTO trial, consistent with the trial triggering changes to China's REE policy and recent announcement to abolish quotas. We do find, however, that extreme REE price movements have a first order effect on all companies in the REE industry consistent with recent market trends to enable hedging against REE price volatility.JEL Classification: F13, F52, G14, Q31, Q34, Q37, Q38

We compare the suitability of short-memory models (ARMA), long-memory models (ARFIMA), and a GARCH model to describe the volatility of rare earth elements (REEs). We find strong support for the existence of long-memory effects. A simple long-memory ARFIMA() baseline model shows generally superior accuracy both in-and out-of-sample, and is robust for various subsamples and estimation windows. Volatility forecasts produced by the baseline model also convey material forward-looking information for companies in the REEs industry. Thus, an active trading strategy based on REE volatility forecasts for these companies significantly outperforms a passive buy-and-hold strategy on both an absolute and a risk-adjusted return basis.

Rare earth elements (REEs) have become increasingly important because of their relative scarcity and worldwide increasing demand, as well as China's quasi-monopoly of this market. REEs are virtually not substitutable, and they are essential for a variety of hightech products and modern key technologies. This has raised serious concerns that China will misuse its dominant position to set export quotas in order to maximize its own profits at the expense of other rare earth user industries (wealth transfer motive). In fact, export restrictions on REEs were the catalyst for the U.S. to lodge a formal complaint against China in 2012 at the WTO. This paper analyzes possible wealth transfer effects by focusing on export quota announcements (so-called MOFCOM announcements) by China, and the share price reactions of Chinese REE suppliers, U.S. REE users, and the rest of the world REE refiners. Overall, we find limited support for the view of a wealth transfer in connection with MOFCOM announcements only when disentangling events prior to and post the initiation of the WTO trial, consistent with the trial triggering changes to China's REE policy and recent announcement to abolish quotas. We do find, however, that extreme REE price movements have a first order effect on all companies in the REE industry consistent with recent market trends to enable hedging against REE price volatility.