The uncertainty surrounding oil and gas reserves estimation and the cost of gathering reserves data discourage firms from disclosing sufficient data to satisfy SORP (statement of recommended practice) requirements, especially where oil and gas reserves disclosure is discretionary. However, the need to reduce agency cost and signal to stakeholders induces firms to disclose oil and gas reserves. The contrasting views on the rationale guiding the extent of disclosure were examined in this study. A sample was drawn from 83 United Kingdom (UK) oil and gas exploration and production companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Appropriate statistical tools were used to investigate the extent of oil and gas reserves disclosure. The findings provide mixed results about the extent of disclosure to meet SORP's requirements. There was no particular evidence that UK oil and gas companies provide qualitatively acceptable oil and gas reserves quantity information. The observed varying degrees of disclosure in the market could be attributed to a discretionary regime that allows firms to determine how and when to disclose. Policy makers and industry regulators could find the results useful in assessing the current extent of disclosure compliance.Correspondence: Cosmas Ogobuchi Odo,

Given the recent developments in the Nigerian banking industry, only a profitable banking sector is better able to withstand negative shocks and contribute to the stability of the financial system. This assertion compels an in depth investigation of the determinants of the profitability of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Our data set is made up of 147 bank level observations over a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010 in respect of 15 banks that satisfied the study requirements. Data were obtained from the annual reports and accounts of the sampled banks. Pooled OLS (Pooled ordinary least square) stated in a multiple regression form was used to estimate the coefficients. Major outcomes of the analysis include that increase in size (higher total assets) may not necessarily lead to higher profits due to diseconomies of scale; higher capital-assets ratio and loans and advances contribute strongly to bank profitability. Overall, the paper suggests bank size, capital and asset composition as the major endogenous determinants of bank profitability in Nigeria.

Every entity operates with the entity concept, which endues management to strategize for survival. This study examined optimal tax behaviour and corporate survival with a focus in Nigeria. Ex-post-facto was adopted and data computed from annual accounts of 52 out of 198 quoted companies were used. Descriptive Statistics, test of normality, outliers, and multi-collinearity tests were carried out to establish the normality of the data. Both fixed and random effects of the generalized least square multiple regressions were conducted and the outcome of the test showed that ETR is a positive but insignificant determinant of EPS while EATS were found to be a positive and significant determinants of EPS of companies in Nigeria. The study concluded that quoted companies are yet to effectively and efficiently explore loopholes in tax laws. The study recommended that companies in Nigeria should urgently explore these loopholes and improve their performance and experts with professional skills should be engaged as not infringe tax laws.

This paper examines the impact of information technology on bank profitability. Using a sample comprising one-quarter of the banks in Nigeria currently quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, regression results were in conflict with a priori expectations, which indicated that information technology spending in the study period had no significant impact on future operating performance. The results remained robust irrespective of alternative measures of profitability. This surprising outcome, among other things, is likely connected with the fact that investment in information technology is now a common denominator for all banks and that the data set is from a sub-Saharan African country where investment in information technology by banks is not yet at its prime level. However, what the results show is that information technology investment is inevitable for banking institutions to enable them to continue to operate efficiently in the current competitive banking industry.

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