During the last decades the globalisation of financial markets, the intensifying competition as well as the rapid economic, social and technological changes, have led to an increasing uncertainty and instability in the financial and business environments. This new context has given a new rise to the role of economics and finance for the operation of firms and organisations. The contents of this volume cover a wide range of topics, including among others stock market applications, banking management, corporate performance, as well as macroeconomic issues.