In this paper, we present a data-driven approach to forecasting stock prices in the Moroccan Stock Exchange. Our study tests three predictive models: ARIMA, LSTM, and transformers, applied to the historical stock price data of three prominent credit companies (EQD, LES, and SLF) listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. We carefully selected and optimized hyperparameters for each model to achieve optimal performance. Our results showed that the LSTM model achieved high accuracy, with R-squared values exceeding 0.99 for EQD and LES and surpassing 0.95 for SLF. These findings highlighted the effectiveness of LSTM in stock price forecasting. Our study offers practical insights for traders and investors in the Moroccan Stock Exchange, demonstrating how predictive modeling can aid in making informed decisions. This research contributes to advancing stock market forecasting in Morocco, providing valuable tools for navigating the Casablanca Stock Exchange.

The Moroccan manufacturing sector consumes 24% of the country’s total energy production. Morocco is dealing with energy challenges related to its growing energy consumption, which has made energy efficiency a national priority. In this study, we construct a model that includes mimetic pressure and financial slack as drivers to reduce the intensity of risk aversion regarding electrical energy efficiency practices within companies. Our research model was empirically examined using survey data gathered from 193 manufacturing companies located in four Moroccan regions. Results show that risk aversion is negatively related to energy efficiency practices. Both mimetic pressure and financial slack are positively related to energy efficiency practices. Both mimetic pressure and financial slack reduce risk aversion. Mimetic pressure dampens the negative relationship between risk aversion and energy efficiency practices, while financial slack does not dampen the negative relationship between risk aversion and energy efficiency practices. This study shows the importance of mimetic pressure in reducing risk aversion regarding energy efficiency practices. Therefore, policymakers should publicize in the media companies that have gained from the adoption of energy efficiency practices and establish an award system of best energy efficiency practices in each industry. This study is an extension of the previous literature since we found that financial slack decreases the level of risk aversion, but this does not always translate into energy efficiency practices, as the previous literature assumes.

In recent years, crowdfunding has emerged as a new fundraising technique for start-up ventures; however, Moroccan small and medium-sized businesses are still wary of this novel source of funding. This is confirmed by the low adoption rate of this financial innovation as well as the limited number of crowdfunding platforms in Morocco. This study aims to identify the impact of performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), and perceived risk (PR) on SMEs’s intention to use crowdfunding platforms using a research model based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Empirical data were collected from 241 respondents through a survey, and structural equation modelling was used to analyze the findings. The results show that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), and facilitating conditions (FE) affect SMEs’s intentions to use crowdfunding. However, social influences (SI) and perceived risk (PR) were not found to be significant determinants. Regarding the moderating effect of age, our study has highlighted that this variable has moderated the relationship between the three independents variables: performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and perceived risk. Finally, this paper offers recommendations for how to increase SMEs’s intention to use crowdfunding platforms.

In this study, the reliability of the Fama–French Three-Factor model (FF3F) and the Carhart Four-Factor model (C4F) is examined thoroughly. In order to determine which of the asset pricing models is the best to explain portfolio returns on the Moroccan share market, these two models are indeed evaluated in the Moroccan market. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that five years of monthly data from the firms that listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange are used in this research, as well over the period of nine years. The results of this inquiry show that these models barely have a partial hold on the Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE), which limits their ability to predict the cross-sections of returns. In accordance with this, the C4F model has somewhat greater explanatory power than the FF3F Model. Moreover, our research adds to the body of knowledge by inserting two learned material asset pricing theories to the proof in the market, which is still evolving, and where distinctive anomalistic traits still exist (the CSE).

This study examines the relationship between carbon emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth in Morocco from 1990 to 2021. The ARDL technique was employed to analyze the long and short-term relationships among the variables. Results reveal a long-term relationship between carbon emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth in Morocco. Additionally, economic growth was found to have a positive and significant impact on carbon emissions both in the short and long term, supporting the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. Policymakers and governments must prioritize investments in energy efficiency improvements and carbon emissions reductions through effective environmental policies and infrastructure investments while emphasizing alternative and renewable energy sources.

Due to climate change, firms are encouraged to introduce various measures to enhance both their competitiveness and sustainability, particularly energy efficiency measures (EEMs). Energy efficiency is particularly important in energy-intensive sectors such as the industrial sector. However, EEMs within industrial firms are hindered by several internal barriers such as competing interests within firms, lack of information regarding energy efficiency opportunities, and low technical competence. In this regard, energy audits aim to improve energy efficiency in facilities and to tackle internal barriers to energy efficiency. We developed a model that seeks to investigate the significance of energy audits in the implementation of EEMs and to reduce the intensity of internal barriers to energy efficiency. Our research model was empirically tested via data collected from a survey conducted with 193 industrial firms in the Kingdom of Morocco. Results show that competing interests, lack of information, and low technical competence hinder the adoption of EEMs within industrial firms, which aligns with findings from previous studies. In addition, our findings indicate that energy audits enhance EEMs and mitigate the negative effect of lack of information and low technical competence on the adoption of EEMs, which is consistent with findings from prior studies. However, our results demonstrate that energy audits do not attenuate the negative effect of competing interests on EEMs; this contrasts with findings from several previous studies. Therefore, our study builds upon prior research and contributes new insights regarding the importance of energy audits in tackling internal barriers to energy efficiency.