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Organized by the MIT Sloan School of Management and cosponsored by Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) and School of Economics of Zhejiang University, the 15th China International Conference in Finance was held in Hangzhou from July 12 to 15, 2017. More than 800 scholars and industry experts around the world attended the conference. Jiang Wang, Special-term Professor and Chair of SAIF’s Academic Council, served as the chair of the conference. At the conference, Congjiu Zhu, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, delivered a welcome speech, followed by a keynote speech addressed by Sheridan Titman, Professor of the University of Texas, Austin. The conference received nearly 1,200 papers, and a total of 240 papers were shortlisted. The authors were professors and doctoral students from world-class business schools as well as researchers from various financial institutions and regulatory bodies. The papers of several SAIF professors, including Hong Yan, Yeguang Chi and Xiaomeng Lu, were on the shortlist. More than ten papers from nine SAIF special-term professors, including He Zhiguo, Harrison Hong and Lu Zheng, were also included, which made SAIF a prominent contributor in terms of both the number of authors and that of papers. During the three-day academic conference, Tan Wang, Jun Liu, Hong Yan, Huibin Zhang and several other professors of SAIF served as the chair of conference subcommittees, among whom SAIF special-term Prof. Jun Pan acted as the Program Chair and SAIF special-termProf. Xiaoyun Yu was Program Co-Chair.

Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) held a graduation ceremony on July 9, 2017, at which more than 350 graduates were awarded degrees. Prof. Wei Cai, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, attended the ceremony and addressed a speech. Mr. Jianqin Jiang g, Chairman of China-Central and Eastern Europe Investment Cooperation Fund and former Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, served as the keynote speaker. Mr. Jiang pointed out that success comes from persistence and perseverance. In the financial sector, the one who sticks to the end will be the king. The financier community appreciates not sprinters but marathon champions. He encouraged the graduates to fight for long-run successes instead of being contented by brief applauses. Graduates of the MF, FMBA, EMBA, DBA and PhD & Ms-PhD programs attended the event. Prof. Jiang Wang, Chair of SAIF’s Academic Councilcongratulated the graduates and hoped that they would always carry the SAIF spirit with them. The graduation ceremony was hosted by Prof. Chang Chun, Executive Dean of SAIF. Jie Pan, Associate Dean, served as the master of the ceremony. More than ten leaders and professors, including Yaguang Wang, Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Qigui Zhu, Secretary of the Party Committee of SAIF; Feng Li, Deputy Dean; Hong Yan, Deputy Dean; and Fei Wu, Associate Professor were present at the ceremony. Outstanding graduates were commended at the ceremony. He Wang, Zhang Wenbo, and Chen Xuanxuan---graduates of MF Program, and Zhu Yun and Wang Pengfei---graduates of FMBA Program, were honored as “Distinguished Graduates in Shanghai”. Other fifteen graduates, including Xu Junru and Xu Zhengwei, were honored as “Distinguished Graduates of Shanghai Jiao Tong University”.

A tender offer from China National Chemical Corporation for Swiss Syngenta, the largest pesticide company in the world, officially concluded recently, which means this $43 billion takeover, one of the largest offshore M&A cases engaged by a Chinese corporation, can be delivered once all review and approval processes are finalized. Qian Jun, Professor of Finance at SAIF and Vice Director of China Academy of Financial Research, illustrated three trends and characteristics of offshore M&As by Chinese companies. First of all, many enterprises, especially in traditional industries, are conducting diversified cross-industry M&As. Although diversification has become a major trend, it is necessary to be cautious. Second, with massive M&As and asset allocation across the world in recent years, Chinese enterprises have changed to capital exporters from capital importers as assets, technology, market and industry layout become the targets of such M&As. In the process, country risk evaluation and differences in corporate culture should be alerted. And third, a wave of transnational M&As was formed among Chinese enterprises in 2016. By the first quarter of 2017, the demand continued to increase while it was hit by the difficulties in capital outflow. Recently, as both the foreign exchange reserves and exchange rates are stabilizing, there is no doubt that the tide of offshore M&As would recover if the market remains steady.

Institutional investors in China outperform the market on an ongoing basis! With the adjustment of market risk factors, the total return of stock funds is 6.5% higher than market average. After deducting expenses, it is still 4.75% higher, which is widely different from the US market. How do they make it? A study of Chi Yeguang, Assistant Professor of Finance at Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University shows that it is related to the composition of investors as well as the information advantages of institutional investors in China. His thesis named Private Information in the Chinese Stock Market: Evidence from Mutual Funds and Corporate Insiders about the effectiveness of the secondary stock market in China, based on an analysis of positions and returns of 400 actively managed and stock funds from 2003 to 2015 as well as an in-depth research on the stock holdings of major shareholders of listed companies, won the first prize of CFA Best Paper in the 29th Australasian Finance and Banking Conference CFA Institute Research Award in late 2016. According to Prof. Chi, the effectiveness of a secondary market depends on the distribution of information and pricing. First, an effective market should distribute relevant information to all market participants. And second, market participants should be able to analyze the information accurately and influence asset pricing through trading. However, Prof. Chi found that Chinese retail investors fall behind institutions in both areas. First, in terms of information gathering, institutions could gain first-hand information due to their huge database while for retail investors the information flow is much slower. Second, in regard of information analysis, institutions can hire financial experts to analyze the information and trade stocks while retail investors are behindhand. Thus, it is natural for institutions to defeat retail investors and beat the market as the market is dominated by retail investors in China. Still, the profile of China’s stock market is improving on a vertical basis. On one hand, the performance of stock funds is falling with a total decrease of 1.3% over the past decade. On the other hand, the predictability of share prices through what significant shareholders are buying is decreasing in recent years.

SAIF’s international module of “Finance and Innovation” was successfully held in Boston between February 13 and February 17, 2017. A total of 37 participants from MBA and MF programs attended the module under the guidance of Prof. Charles Chang. Themed Finance and Innovation”, this module explores the financial and business ecosystems both in China and in US, through classroom lectures and overseas practices. It aims at expanding the international vision of the participants and their understanding of global financial innovation. At Sloan School of Business of MIT, the participants studied and discussed the theme with three professors. Prof. Chunk Kane, on the ground of entrepreneurs, shared his opinions on investment and entrepreneurship with real-world cases. Prof. John Gran analyzed the key success factors for popular startups in Boston. Prof. David Birnbach demonstrated the benign ecosystem that facilitates innovations in Boston. Prof. Wang Jiang, Chairof the Academic Council of SAIF, also interacted with the participants at MIT. At Harvard Business School, Prof. William R. Ken conducted a “lean startup” case study for the participants. Through classic examples and consilience of knowledge, he guided the participants to share their own views in the classroom. In Boston, the participants also visited the reputable Rose Park Advisors, Cambridge Innovation Center, MIT Startup Exchange, Cooley LLP Law Office and Owner IQ Company, where they exchanged views with the executives, venture capitalists and star entrepreneurial project directors.

At the Lujiazui SAIF Forum held by Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University on April 22, over 300 experts and scholars on economics, law and regulation gathered to share their research achievements and real-world cases, and explore the challenges in domestic and overseas M&A practices.. Pan Jie, Associate Dean of SAIF, and Ms. Guo Zhiying, Deputy Director General of Lujiazui Financial City Development Bureau, both delivered a speech on behalf of the organizers. Then, Mr. Li Xunlei, Chief Economist of Zhongtai Securities Co., Ltd. and Qilu Securities Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Vice President of China’s Chief Economists’ Forum, delivered a keynote speech of “Economic Trends and Opportunities in China”. Prof. Qian Jun of SAIF and Vice Director of China Academy of Financial Research (CAFR), shared about the new trends of worldwide M&As among Chinese companies. Furthermore,Xiao Kai, professor of the School of Law, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Financial Commissioner of Shanghai Procuratorate made a speech on the “criminal and legal risks in financial innovation”. In a panel discussion, three guest speakers, namely Li Xunlei, Prof. Qian Jun and Prof. Xiao Kai, along with Mr. Cai Mingpo, Chairman of Cathay Capital PE, and Mr. Wang Ziming, President of Greenland Group M&A Centre, discussed and explored the innovations and risks in M&A.

Prof. Chen Hong and Prof. Zhang Anmin of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) were among the most cited Chineser researchers, according to a list of Most Cited Chinese Researchers in 2016 published by Elsevier recently. This proves once again the powerful research strength and originality of the SAIF faculty.The two professors have made outstanding academic contributions, and enjoyed remarkable influence in their respective fields of research. Prof. Chen Hong is a full-time Professor of Management Science at SAIF, whose profile is available throughhttp://en.saif.sjtu.edu.cn/content/show/103-25.html. Prof. Zhang Anmin is a full-time professor of Management Science at SAIF. Please click thelinkfor more details about him.The list of Most Cited Chinese Researchers is based on Elsevier’s Scopus Database of. Scopus, the world's largest database of peer-reviewed academic papers, which makes it possible to analyze and rate scholars as it provides mass information about literature, authors and research institutes related to scientific research.This year, 1,776 researchers in 38 disciplines from 227 Chinese institutions were included in the list, 79 of whom come from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

On April 16, 2017, Leading economist and renowned professor Wu Jinglian addressed on the “real issues in China” at the SAIF·CAFR Distinguished Speaker Series. During the event, his studies and methodology on Chinese reform, as well as his new book, named Chinese Reform Trilogy, attracted nearly five hundred participants. The event was co-organized by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) and CITIC Press Group Shanghai Office. In Prof. Wu’s view, China’s reform started from the 8th CPC National Congress in 1956. In the next 60 years, China has encountered hardships and problems, while making remarkable achievements as well. He explained that “we need to summarize experience and lessons, specify the research methodology on China’s economy and stand on a new historical point to promote China’s reform.” What are the real issues in promoting the reform？ As Prof. Wu mentioned, the root cause must be figured out. There is no shortcut to reform. The only solution for China is to build a market-oriented and legalized society. In a panel discussion hosted by Qin Shuo, a famous media professional, Prof. Chang Chun and Executive Dean of SAIF; Yan Hong, Professor of Finance; Prof. Lu Ming from Antai College of Economics and Management; and Prof. Weisen Li from School of Economics, Fudan University, conducted an intensive debate on the topic and answered questions from the audience. The participating experts agreed that a sound strategy is to promote reform in an all-round manner.

June 19th, 2017, Shanghai – The Master of Finance (MF) Program of the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University has been recognized as one of the best in the world, according to a ranking by the Financial Times (FT) published today. In FT's 2017 tabulation, SAIF's MF program was ranked #1 in Asia and #14 globally, jumping 14 slots from last year when it participated in the ranking for the first time. In terms of value for money, SAIF was ranked #1 in Asia and #7 in the world. Since its inaugural publication in 2011, the FT ranking has been considered one of the most hailed benchmarks in the world. It rates business schools and their MF programs on 17 criteria in two key domains. The career progression domain, weighing 58% in total, is derived from a survey among alumni after three years of graduation. The other domain focuses on the diversity of business schools and their MF programs, which is collected from survey questionnaires. This year, 60 business schools from all over the world made the ranking list, including 6 entrants from Asia. Besides SAIF, other entrants from the Chinese mainland were the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University, the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, and the Lingnan College at Sun Yat-sen University (ranked 17th, 18th, and 56th respectively). According to FT, SAIF distinguishes itself in the following rankings: "Employment at Three Months" (#1 in the world), "Faculty with Doctorates" (#1 in the world), "Salary Increase" (#5 in the world), "Salary Today" (#7 in the world), "Value for Money" (#7 in the world), "Career Progression" (#1 in Asia), and "International Course Experience" (#1 in Asia). "The fact that the SAIF MF program outperforms many of its worldwide peers and tops the podium of the Asian league is a recognition of SAIF's model of talent development based on superior standards, international experience, and specialized professional training. It also marks a new leap towards our goal of becoming a world-class financial institute," said Prof. Chang Chun, Executive Dean of SAIF. One of the flagships at SAIF and taught in English, the two-year full-time MF Program is characterized by an atmosphere of open-mindedness, international vision, and a cutting-edge teaching approach supported by simulation labs. Consistent with the teaching system at MIT and other elite business schools in the world, its curriculum and courses are designed to link the trends of the financial sector to the reality of both domestic and international markets. "Thanks to world-renowned professors, outstanding classmates, and a set of specialized and forward-looking courses, I acquired financial expertise in a systematic manner and developed my international vision at SAIF, which has paved my way to realizing my financial career dream," said Chen Xiaoguang, a SAIF MF 2014 alumni who is currently a researcher of Huatai-PineBridge Investments. "The tough two years spent at SAIF MF were intense and stressful, but they were probably one of the best investments in my career and personal development." Committed to becoming the predominant MF program in China with an international reputation, SAIF MF progressed rapidly since its initiation eight years ago, and has gained remarkable awareness in the market. With an accumulative average acceptance rate of less than 5%, its participants come from leading universities and colleges in China and across the world. Highly preferred by the market, SAIF MF graduates boast a remarkable employment record of 100% with a starting salary that leads the pack in China. Take the MF graduates in 2016 as an example. Their employers include: JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CICC, Citic Securities, Tencent, Hony Capital, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting, China Merchants Bank Head Office, Haitong Securities, Fosun Group, and other top financial institutions and corporations both inside and outside of China. Their starting salaries were RMB 284,000 on average, with the median of RMB 230,000 and the highest at RMB680,000. MF 2014 graduates covered in FT's survey this year reported an average salary today, three years after graduation, of nearly USD $112,000, which is among the highest of all the listed business schools. In order to better serve the market need for high-caliber financial professionals with an international vision, the SAIF MF Program is about to expand its enrollment, starting this year. The cohorts will be doubled from the current 40 participant to about 80 per year. The recruitment of distinguished international students will also be enhanced. "SAIF MF is committed to training and fostering world-class financial professionals who are experts of modern financial theories and techniques as well as operations and practices of the financial sector both in China and across the world. Moreover, we are also keen to develop exceptional leadership and communication skills, the highest levels of professionalism, and an exemplary sense of social responsibility in our students," said Prof. Zhan Jiang, Associate Professor and Co-director of SAIF MF Program. "Meanwhile, we will strive to seek innovations and breakthroughs in regard to international exchange programs and curriculum design." SAIF was established in 2009 as part of the renowned Shanghai Jiao Tong University with the goal of supporting the development of Shanghai into a global financial center. It benchmarks against leading finance departments and business schools worldwide. Over the last eight years, SAIF has successfully launched a comprehensive portfolio of programs that specialize in finance, including the Master of Finance (MF), MBA, EMBA, DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), Ph.D./Ms-Ph.D. and Executive Education (EE) programs, among which SAIF MBA, EMBA and DBA programs are the first pioneers in China. Furthermore, SAIF has developed international partnerships with over 20 world-class business schools, including MIT, Stanford, and Wharton. Today, SAIF has built up a "Dream Team" of financial faculty comprised of over 60 Chinese professors with an overseas background, including: six scholars listed in China's Thousand Talents Plan, another six in Shanghai's Thousand Talents Plan, and four Changjiang Scholars. Meanwhile, SAIF also holds a leadership position in academic research and knowledge creation in China. In parallel to SAIF, the China Academy of Financial Research (CAFR) is an open research platform and top-class think tank of international standards committed to introducing cutting-edge financial theories and models into China, while focusing on policy and applied theoretical research in relation to China's financial reform and development. It has generated a number of major research findings, attracting both domestic and international attention. In February 2016, SAIF became one of the youngest business schools to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). In January 2017, according to the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report 2016 published by the University of Pennsylvania, SAIF made it into the list of the Top 100 Think Tanks to Watch for the 3rd year in a row, beating all of its peers in China to win 31st place. Over the past eight years, SAIF has cultivated nearly 1,700 outstanding graduates, who have excelled in the financial markets of China and around the world, shaping a rising community of SAIFers.

On August 17th, 2016, the Natural Science Foundation of China published the results of its initiative review in 2016. A research initiative on “Chinese Macroeconomic Modeling” led by Chang Chun, Executive Dean and Professor of Finance at Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, won the key initiative grant from the Foundation. The initiative not only represents one of the major breakthroughs in the theoretical framework and modeling of China’s monetary policies, but also fills up the gap of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in the related category of the grant. In addition to Prof. Chang Chun, Prof. Liu Zheng and Prof. Zha Tao of SAIF, the research team is also comprised of eight world-class scholars, including Dr. Ma Jun, Chief Economist of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) Financial Research Institute, Dr. Mark M. Spiegel, Research Fellow of San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, and Prof. Lawrence Christiano from Northwestern University of the United States. The scholars have built up abundant research findings and experience in the areas of structured macroeconomic model, macro empirical quantitative analysis, time series analysis and DSGE modeling of monetary policies. Prof. Chang said that the initiative is intended to construct a systematic macroeconomic database for the Chinese economy that conforms to international standards. The database should provide a useful platform for the academic research on China’s macro economy. “We will identify the important stylized facts about the institutions and efficiency of China’s macroeconomic policy based on the model econometrics methods, including Bayesian Vector Autoregression model and Markov regime switching Vector Autoregression model,” according to Prof. Chang. “Most importantly, we will build a theoretical framework that is consistent with China’s specific economic structure and policy regime. Specifically, our DSGE models should incorporate a segmented economic structure with the coexistence of a state sector and a private sector, a financial system that treats these two types of firms differently, and a tightly managed capital account and exchange-rate system,” Prof. Chang said.