Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maha Sameen Author-Workplace-Name: University of Agder, Norway Title: Applications for Generative AI in Banking and Finance: Opportunities, Risks, and Governance Publication-Status: Published Abstract: The research paper involves a thorough discussion of the how Generative AI (GenAI) has shifted the paradigm of banking and finance industry due to the use of artificial intelligence. In current times, the (GenAI) has become a new emerging force that hasn't been considered as a transformative one yet compared to the old methods of predictive analytics. This study analyzed the financial services ecosystem with its ability to provide new content, model scenarios, and personalized interactions. This research generalizes the exploration of GenAI as customer support services to other areas such as risk management, algorithmic trading, fraud detection, financial reporting, and regulation. This paper is based on the synthesis of the knowledge base on deep learning, multimodal systems, and ethical AI and creates a comprehensive system of GenAI application in finance. The important technologies forming the basis of GenAI including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and diffusion models and how they are applied to financial services, including dynamic customer interaction and hyper-personalized creation of products to the creation of synthetic financial data to train and stress-test models. The article deals with such crucial implementation issues as the privacy of data, model hallucination, regulatory oversight, and ethical aspects of autonomous financial content creation. By comparing and assessing the performance of GenAI over conventional rule-based systems (such as IVR and simple chatbots) in terms of flexibility, knowledge of context, and value-generating interactions, we demonstrate that GenAI outperforms them. Nevertheless, to integrate successfully, there should be strong governance structures and explainability systems as well as human AI collaboration models. The article finds that GenAI is not just a minor upgrade, but a complete rethinking of how financial services is offered, and has the capability to streamline the offer process, make it more accessible, and more personal and offer new aspects of risk, which need to be carefully managed by responsible innovation. Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI); Synthetic Financial Data; Risk Management; Stress Testing; Financial Technology (FinTech) Journal: iRASD Journal of Finance Pages: 01 - 09 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2025 Month: December DOI: 10.52131/jof.2025.0401.0016 File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/view/3057 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/download/3057/2055 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rad:irdjof:v:4:y:2025:i:1:id:3057 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Asad Murad Author-Workplace-Name: Forman Christian College University, Lahore. Author-Name: Shahbaz Ashraf Author-Workplace-Name: Forman Christian College University, Lahore. Title: Evaluating the Role of Digital Adoption and Family Support in Punjab’s Female Entrepreneurship Publication-Status: Published Abstract: This research investigates the complex factors driving the growth of women-owned micro and small enterprises within the rural landscapes of Punjab, Pakistan. Utilizing a quantitative framework, the study surveyed 300 emerging female entrepreneurs across various rural districts. Data analysis was conducted through a two-stage process: preliminary screening in SPSS followed by rigorous structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test both direct impacts and moderating influences. The study examined seven core hypotheses, focusing on how individual skillsets, family dynamics, social structures, market access, and technology influence business expansion. The results highlight that an entrepreneur’s innovative capacity, robust family backing, and the adoption of digital tools are the most significant catalysts for growth. Interestingly, social factors presented a nuanced, dual-natured impact, while market variables influenced success more indirectly than expected. A key finding of this work is the vital role of government assistance and the specific industry sector in moderating these relationships, proving that "one-size-fits-all" support is rarely effective. By integrating Resource-Based View and Institutional Theory, this study provides a clear empirical map of how women navigate conservative rural economies. These insights offer a practical foundation for policymakers and NGOs to design localized interventions that address the unique hurdles faced by women in developing markets. Keywords: Micro-enterprise Growth; Female Entrepreneurship; Institutional Theory; Market Factors Journal: iRASD Journal of Finance Pages: 10 - 18 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2025 Month: December DOI: 10.52131/jof.2025.0401.0017 File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/view/3058 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/download/3058/2056 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rad:irdjof:v:4:y:2025:i:1:id:3058 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kashif Murtaza Author-Workplace-Name: Harbin Institute of Technology, Heilongjiang, China. Author-Name: Umar Farooq Author-Workplace-Name: Harbin Institute of Technology, Heilongjiang, China. Title: Corporate Cash Holdings and Firm Value: Evidence of Nonlinear Effects Under Ownership and Shariah Governance in Pakistan Publication-Status: Published Abstract: This study analysed the differences between cash holdings change value when ownership and governance are different. The panel data from 100 firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange over the period 2014–2024 has been collected. A cutoff model that finds a point where the link between cash holdings and firm value's not a line. The model shows a bend in the link, between cash holdings and firm value. The bend results that there is an amount of cash holdings that makes firm value highest. In short cash holdings that are too high hurt firm value and the right cash holdings lift firm value. Having cash or not enough cash hurts a company’s value. The drop, in value is bigger for family-owned firms and for firms. That shows that family ownership and religious rules make the cost of a cash policy higher. The results tell managers and policymakers that they must set cash management strategies carefully. They especially need to watch cash policies in family-owned firms and, in firms. By providing evidence from a developing economy with relatively weak governance mechanisms, this study extends the cash holdings literature and uncovers previously overlooked moderating roles of family ownership and Shariah compliance in shaping the value consequences of corporate cash policies. Keywords: Corporate Cash Holdings; Firm Value; Ownership Structure; Shariah-Compliant Firms Journal: iRASD Journal of Finance Pages: 19 - 26 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2025 Month: December DOI: 10.52131/jof.2025.0401.0018 File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/view/3056 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/download/3056/2057 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rad:irdjof:v:4:y:2025:i:1:id:3056 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Erik Lundqvist Author-Workplace-Name: Stockholm School of Economics Stockholm, Sweden Title: Fintech Innovation, Adoption, And Financial Decision-Making: A Study of Swedish Consumers Publication-Status: Published Abstract: Fintech, or financial technology, has significantly transformed financial services in Sweden by enhancing convenience, accessibility, and efficiency for consumers. Despite Sweden's advanced digital financial ecosystem, limited research has examined the factors influencing fintech adoption and its impact on consumer behavior. This study investigates the relationship between fintech innovation and consumer behavior, focusing on the mediating and moderating roles of trust, adoption, and financial decision-making. Using a sample of 228 Swedish consumers, data were collected through validated Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS and Excel through descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and regression analysis. Guided by a positivist philosophy and an inductive research approach, the study found a significant positive relationship between fintech innovation and consumer behavior. However, trust was found to have no significant mediating effect between fintech adoption and financial decision-making, nor a significant moderating effect on the relationship between fintech innovation and financial decision-making. The findings suggest that fintech adoption positively influences consumer behavior in Sweden, while trust plays a limited role in shaping financial decision-making. These results challenge existing literature and indicate that factors such as convenience and functionality may outweigh trust concerns in highly digitalized financial environments. The study highlights the need for further qualitative research to explore individual experiences and contextual factors affecting fintech adoption and financial behavior. Keywords: Fintech Innovation; Consumer Finance; Financial Decision-Making; Financial Technology; Fintech Ecosystem Journal: iRASD Journal of Finance Pages: 27 - 38 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2025 Month: December DOI: 10.52131/jof.2025.0401.0019 File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/view/3190 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/download/3190/2062 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rad:irdjof:v:4:y:2025:i:1:id:3190 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Artem V. Belozerov Author-Workplace-Name: Ural State University of Economics, Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. Author-Name: Elena P. Morozkina Author-Workplace-Name: Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. Title: A Hybrid Approach to Corporate Investment Efficiency. A Five-Year Panel Study of Listed Firms in Russia Publication-Status: Published Abstract: Corporate capital allocation remains a critical yet highly volatile strategic challenge, particularly under conditions of market unpredictability and resource scarcity. Despite the widespread adoption of traditional financial metrics such as Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), empirical corporate outcomes remain highly inconsistent. This variance suggests that traditional models fail to account for structural blind spots and cognitive biases inherent in managerial decision-making. This study bridges this gap by evaluating capital budgeting through a dual framework: the rational, data-driven principles of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and the psychological insights of Behavioral Finance. Utilizing a quantitative empirical approach, we analyzed five years of longitudinal financial data (2021–2025) from 50 publicly listed, non-financial corporations. This study bridges this gap by evaluating capital budgeting through a dual framework: the rational, data-driven principles of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and the psychological insights of Behavioral Finance. Utilizing a quantitative empirical approach, we analyzed five years of longitudinal financial data (2021–2025) from 12 publicly listed, non-financial corporations. The findings indicate that firms utilizing diversified asset allocation strategies combined with structured, objective risk-assessment frameworks achieved significantly higher Return on Investment (ROI) and lower cash flow volatility. Conversely, managerial overconfidence and loss aversion consistently degraded capital budgeting efficiency. Quantitatively, firms that adopted integrated, hybrid decision-making models demonstrated a 12 to 18% increase in investment efficiency relative to peers relying strictly on traditional evaluation metrics. This study demonstrates that optimal corporate performance requires a synthesis of robust quantitative analytics and active mitigation of behavioral biases. The resulting hybrid decision-making paradigm offers actionable insights for improving capital efficiency and long-term corporate performance. Keywords: Capital Budgeting; Modern Portfolio Theory; Behavioral Finance; Investment Efficiency; Corporate Performance; Managerial Bias Journal: iRASD Journal of Finance Pages: 39 - 46 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2025 Month: December DOI: 10.52131/jof.2025.0401.0020 File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/view/3189 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/jof/article/download/3189/2064 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rad:irdjof:v:4:y:2025:i:1:id:3189