What is the expected return on a portfolio that will decline in value by 10% in a recession, will increase by 15% in normal times, and will increase by 20% during boom times? Each scenario has an equal likelihood of occurrence.

In its 2016 annual report, caterpillar inc. reported the following (in millions): 2016 2015 sales $38,537 $47,011 cost of goods sold 28,309 33,546 as a percentage of sales, did caterpillar's gross profit increase or decrease during 2016? select one: a. gross profit increased from 26.8% to 28.6% b. gross profit decreased from 28.6% to 26.5% c. gross profit increased from 71.4% to 73.2% d. gross profit decreased from 73.2% to 71.4% e. there is not enough information to answer the question.

If a firm plans to issue new stock, flotation costs (investment bankers' fees) should not be ignored. there are two approaches to use to account for flotation costs. the first approach is to add the sum of flotation costs for the debt, preferred, and common stock and add them to the initial investment cost. because the investment cost is increased, the project's expected return is reduced so it may not meet the firm's hurdle rate for acceptance of the project. the second approach involves adjusting the cost of common equity as follows: . the difference between the flotation-adjusted cost of equity and the cost of equity calculated without the flotation adjustment represents the flotation cost adjustment. quantitative problem: barton industries expects next year's annual dividend, d1, to be $1.90 and it expects dividends to grow at a constant rate g = 4.3%. the firm's current common stock price, p0, is $22.00. if it needs to issue new common stock, the firm will encounter a 6% flotation cost, f. assume that the cost of equity calculated without the flotation adjustment is 12% and the cost of old common equity is 11.5%. what is the flotation cost adjustment that must be added to its cost of retaine

The strength of the economy depends on the balance pf production and consumption of goods and consumption of goods and services