Synthesis, characterization, and BSA binding studies of newfangled 2-phenylacetohydrazide derivatives.

Five 2-phenylacetohydrazide derivatives (BPAH = N'-benzylidene-2-phenylacetohydrazide, HBPAH = N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-phenylacetohydrazide), PPAH = 2-phenyl-N'-3-phenylallylideneacetohydrazide, FMPAH = N'-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-2-phenylaceto hydrazide and EPAH = N'-ethylidene-2-phenylacetohydrazide were synthesized by the condensation of 2-phenylacetohydrazide with the corresponding aldehyde. The synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the BPAH and PPAH were analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and in both crystallized compounds, the molecules adopted trans geometry around the -C[bond, double bond]N- (imine) functional group. To explore the pharmacological significance of these compounds, the binding ability of these compounds with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. BPAH and PPAH showed the highest binding ability while EPAH, HBPAH, and FMPAH had lower binding ability to BSA molecules. Thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH°, and ΔS° demonstrated that interactions of BSA with compounds BPAH, EPAH, FMAH, and HBPAH were exothermic while for PPAH it was endothermic. The negative enthalpy and entropy of the compounds BPAH, EPAH, FMAH, and HBPAH indicated that van der Waals' forces and hydrogen bonding played a major role in stabilizing the BSA binding with the molecules. Hydrophobic interactions were predominant in the binding of PPAH with BSA tends to interact with two sets of BSA binding sites with an increase in temperature.

Reprint of: Do retail traders destabilize financial markets? An investigation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Existing research suggests that retail trading is associated with volatility in financial markets. To extend the literature, we study the dynamic effects of retail trading on volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using marketable retail trades identified from the Boehmer et al. (2021) algorithm and novel empirical methods discussed in Jordá (2005), we document a negative, persistent impact of retail trading on the stability of stock prices that is particularly stronger during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. These results highlight how periods of crises - like the pandemic - affect the destabilizing influence of retail trading. To provide additional evidence, we replicate our empirical exercise during the 2008-09 financial crisis. Consistent with the COVID-19 period, we again find that retail trading leads to more volatility during the financial crisis vis-á-vis the pre-crisis period. These results again support the idea that periods of crises strengthen the link between retail trading and volatility.

Do retail traders destabilize financial markets? An investigation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Existing research suggests that retail trading is associated with volatility in financial markets. To extend the literature, we study the dynamic effects of retail trading on volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using marketable retail trades identified from the Boehmer et al. (2021) algorithm and novel empirical methods discussed in Jordá (2005), we document a negative, persistent impact of retail trading on the stability of stock prices that is particularly stronger during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. These results highlight how periods of crises - like the pandemic - affect the destabilizing influence of retail trading. To provide additional evidence, we replicate our empirical exercise during the 2008-09 financial crisis. Consistent with the COVID-19 period, we again find that retail trading leads to more volatility during the financial crisis vis-á-vis the pre-crisis period. These results again support the idea that periods of crises strengthen the link between retail trading and volatility.

Deaths, panic, lockdowns and US equity markets: The case of COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the microstructure of US equity markets. In particular, we explain the liquidity and volatility dynamics via indexes that capture multiple dimensions of the pandemic. Our results suggest that increases in confirmed cases and deaths due to coronavirus are associated with a significant increase in market illiquidity and volatility. Similarly, declining sentiment and the implementations of restrictions and lockdowns contribute to the deterioration of liquidity and stability of markets.

Symmetric and asymmetric impact of oil price, FDI and economic growth on carbon emission in Pakistan: Evidence from ARDL and non-linear ARDL approach.

Several studies have examined the impact of economic growth on carbon emission; however, the symmetric and asymmetric impact of oil price along with FDI on carbon emission has not studied in the case of Pakistan. For this purpose, the long and short-run impact of per capita income, FDI, and oil price on carbon emissions investigated by employing the ARDL and non-linear ARDL cointegration methodology, along with Granger causality in the context of Pakistan for 1971-2014. This study confirms the EKC hypothesis for Pakistan under both methodologies, whereas symmetric results show that economic growth and FDI intensify carbon emission in both the long and short-run, while oil price increase emission in the short-run and reduces emission in the long-run. Whereas asymmetric results in the long-run show that an increase in oil price reduces emissions and decrease in oil price intensify emissions. The causality analysis also supports the above findings and suggests a feedback effect between economic growth and carbon emission in Pakistan. This study provides implications for policymakers, where the descending flow of FDI allows limited space to Pakistan in FDI selection; however, the presence of emission convergence and adoption of carbon pricing may facilitate Pakistan in achieving its environmental targets. While diversifying the overall energy mix towards more renewable/clean energy along with formulating favorable policies for the adoption of renewable energy like solar by the industrial and residential consumers can further reduce the overall emission levels.