An essential introduction to financial decision making in businesses. Preface, The Business Finance Environment, Introduction, A Framework for Financial Decision Making, Financial (Accounting) Statements and Their Interpretation, Investment Decisions, Investment Appraisal Methods, Practical Aspects of Investment Appraisal, Risk in Investment Appraisal, Portfolio Theory and Its Relevance to Real Investment Decisions, Financing Decisions, Sources of Long-Term Finance, The Secondary Capital Market (the Stock Exchange) and Its Efficiency, Cost of Capital Estimations and the Discount Rate, Gearing and the Cost of Capital and Shareholders' Wealth, The Dividend Decision, Integrated Decisions, Management of Working Capital, Corporate Restructuring (including Takeovers and Divestments), International Aspects of Business Finance, Small Businesses, Appendices, References, Index.