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D. Brian Blank

Assistant Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University
Dr. D. Brian Blank is an assistant professor of finance. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business, where he developed expertise researching corporate finance and governance. His dissertation focused on corporate political contributions. He has published in journals including the Journal of Corporate Finance, European Financial Management, Financial Review, the Journal of Financial Research, and the Journal of Housing Research. Dr. Blank also received the 2016 American Accounting Association Ohio Region Meeting Andrews Best Paper Award. He has received invitations to present his research at conferences such as the Financial Management Association, Eastern Finance Association, Southern Finance Association, European Financial Management Association Annual Meeting, and the American Real Estate Society Annual Meetings.

Dr. Blank received his undergraduate education at the University of Alabama, where he also received Masters of Science degrees in Finance and Applied Statistics. Afterwards, he began his career as a Consultant with Accounting, Economics & Appraisal Group, where he provided assistance to companies facing critical challenges including fraud, bankruptcy and litigation. His projects included advising a financial institution victim to a $500 million ponzi scheme; consulting for one of the ten largest United States-based financial institutions; performing due diligence for an international healthcare acquisition; and valuing a business interrupted by the costliest disaster in the history of the United States.

When can we stop worrying about rising prices? The latest inflation report offers no easy answers

Jan 12, 2024 06:33 am UTC| Economy

Tired of thinking about inflations impact on your wallet? Youre not alone. But like it or not, higher prices continue to be an economic and with the presidential race a political issue as we enter the early months of...

Economic lookahead: As we ring in 2024, can the US economy continue to avoid a recession?

Dec 27, 2023 02:20 am UTC| Economy

With economic forecasters rewriting their 2024 outlooks following recent moves from the Federal Reserve, The Conversation turned to two financial economists to share their thoughts on the upcoming year. D. Brian Blank...

Digital Currency Revolution

Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud following the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Here's what investors need to know

Nov 08, 2023 12:08 pm UTC| Digital Currency Law

In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, vast sums of money can be made or lost in the blink of an eye. In early November 2022, the crypto exchange FTX was valued at more than US$30 billion. By the middle of that month,...

Central Banking Series

The Federal Reserve held off hiking interest rates

Sep 23, 2023 03:19 am UTC| Economy Central Banks

Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady at their monthly policy meeting on Sept. 20, 2023 only the second time they have done so since embarking on a rate-raising campaign a year and a half ago. But it is...

Insider trading − the legal kind − is a lot more profitable if you work for a multinational company

Aug 25, 2023 08:20 am UTC| Law

Corporate insiders who trade stocks based on the information they gain on the job earn a lot more if they work at multinational corporations than their peers at U.S. companies with no sales abroad. Thats the main finding...

What are stock buybacks? A finance professor explains why President Biden wants to raise the tax on this controversial use of corporate capital

Feb 14, 2023 13:20 pm UTC| Economy

Companies have been buying back their own stock at record levels something President Joe Biden doesnt care for. In his state of the union address, Biden said corporations ought to do the right thing and invest more of...

Central Banking Series

Federal Reserve is about to hike interest rates once again – so why are mortgage rates coming down?

Dec 19, 2022 16:43 pm UTC| Economy Central Banks

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by half a percentage point on Dec. 14, 2022, to a range of 4.25 to 4.5%, which would be the seventh increase this year. So far in 2022, the Fed has lifted its...

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Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Industry shutdowns are messy and painful: 4 lessons Australia’s coal sector can learn from car-makers about bowing out

Shifting Australias electricity sector to low-carbon technologies and closing coal plants is vital to tackling climate change. But such transitions are easier said than done. People and economies are often deeply...

Food prices will climb everywhere as temperatures rise due to climate change – new research

Climate change, and specifically rising temperatures, may cause food prices to increase by 3.2% per year, according to a new study by researchers in Germany. As climate change continues to worsen, this price inflation will...

Politics

Nvidia RTX 4090D Embroiled in US-China Tech Rivalry; South Korea Navigates Chip Export Dilemma

The U.S. government has tightened export restrictions on high-performance semiconductor chips to China, including the Nvidia RTX 4090D, and is urging South Korea to enforce similar curbs, marking a significant escalation...

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

US Finalizes Ban List for Chinese Chipmakers; Boosts Mexico Semiconductor Ties

The United States is finalizing a list of Chinese chip factories banned from receiving vital technology, aiming to curb Beijings tech advancements amid national security concerns. Concurrently, a US-Mexico semiconductor...

China's Commerce Minister to Advocate EV Sector in Europe Amid Subsidy, Tariff Probe

Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is set to visit Europe in April to address concerns and advocate for the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry amid a European Commission investigation into alleged unfair...

Science

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

Airplane flight is one of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century. The invention of the airplane allows people to travel from one side of the planet to the other in less than a day, compared...

The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve

The progress of science in the last 400 years is mind-blowing. Who would have thought wed be able to trace the history of our universe to its origins 14 billion years ago? Science has increased the length and the quality...

What is minoxidil, the anti-balding hair growth treatment? Here’s what the science says

Hair loss (also known as alopecia) often affects the scalp but can occur anywhere on the body. Its very common and usually nothing to worry about; about half of Australian men show signs of visible baldness at age 50 and...

Technology

CEO Announces JPMorgan's Comprehensive Expansion of AI in Banking Operations

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has underscored the critical role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the financial industry, detailing plans to integrate AI across various banking functions. In his vision, AI will enhance...

Samsung Touts AI as Game-Changer in Outpacing Apple with Innovative Home Appliances

At EuroCucina 2024, Samsung Electronics Co-CEO Han Jong-hee revealed the companys strategic push into AI-enhanced home appliances, aiming to surpass Apple in market innovation. Highlighting Samsungs integration of advanced...

Microsoft Exposes Early Russian Influence Efforts Ahead of US Elections

Microsoft reported on April 17 that Russian operatives have initiated online campaigns to sway the upcoming US presidential election, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years. These operations focus primarily on...

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's Worldcoin Unveils Human-Centric Blockchain, World Chain

Worldcoin, led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, unveiled its new blockchain, World Chain, on April 17. Designed to elevate human users over bots, World Chain aims to streamline efficiency and foster practical utility in Web3...

Senators Push for Stablecoin Regulation to Protect US Dollar Dominance

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Cynthia Lummis have introduced the Lummis-Gillibrand Payment Stablecoin Act. This legislation establishes stringent guidelines for stablecoin issuers to enhance consumer protection and...