The rationality hypothesis has been a very popular topic among the academics. Being a widely accepted hypothesis as part of the traditional finance theories, an investor is deemed a rational agent and makes rational decisions by exhausting all available alternatives. However, recently, new behavioural finance theories have been gaining ground as many empirical findings, which have been left unanswered by the traditional theories, can be explained by these behavioural-approach based theories. This research examined the impact of psychological factors on risk-taking behaviour in investment decisions. In particular, this research considered the possible effects of psychological factors, namely herding, heuristics, prospect, market, self-attribution bias, and familiarity bias, in making investment decisions. The findings in this paper declared that risk-taking behaviour in investment is affected by herding factors, heuristics factors, prospect factors, market factors and self-attribution bias factors. The familiarity bias factors do not significantly affect risk-taking behaviour in financial investment. Keywords: Behavioural finance, Herding, Heuristics, Prospect, Market, Self-attribution bias, Familiarity bias

Contemporary financial theory upholds the market efficiency hypothesis, asserting that stock prices inherently embody all available information. In contrast, behavioral finance theory challenges this premise by proposing that psychological and emotional factors can wield influence over stock prices. This study delves into the repercussions of behavioral finance factors on investment decisions within the Saudi equity markets, utilizing risk perception and financial literacy as mediating variables. An online questionnaire was disseminated to 350 individual investors, yielding 315 completed responses deemed suitable for analysis. Employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the collected data underwent rigorous scrutiny. The findings reveal that herding, the disposition effect, blue-chip bias, and overconfidence significantly and positively impact both risk perception and financial literacy. Furthermore, all four behavioral finance factors exhibit a substantial positive indirect effect on investment decision-making through the intermediaries of risk perception and financial literacy. It is imperative to acknowledge the study’s specific focus on these factors while recognizing the potential influence of other elements on risk perception, financial literacy, and investment decision-making. The research underscores the critical importance of incorporating an individual’s perception of risk into investment decisions, as it markedly shapes their proclivity for risk-taking and, consequently, the performance of their investment portfolio. The findings highlight the necessity for investors to recognize and address their behavioral biases. Additionally, the study advocates for advisors and policymakers to formulate strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of these biases. The comprehensive exploration of behavioral finance factors and their implications for investment decisions yields valuable insights for individual investors and stakeholders in financial advisory and policymaking roles.

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing customer satisfaction with e- banking services in Libyan banks, with a focus on perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, and customer attitude. A descriptive research design with a quantitative research approach was used, and data was collected through a questionnaire distributed online to 215 e-banking users. The findings revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, and customer attitude have a significant positive impact on customers' satisfaction with e-banking services. Customer attitude was found to be the most important factor, followed by perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, and perceived usefulness. The results of this study can be useful for banks in Libya in improving their e- banking services to enhance customers' satisfaction. Banks should prioritize improving customer attitudes towards e-banking services, followed by enhancing the ease of use and credibility of their platforms. Banks should also consider promoting the perceived usefulness of their e-banking services to further increase customer satisfaction. By taking these actions, banks can attract and retain more customers while staying competitive in the digital age. Additionally, these findings can contribute to the existing literature on e-banking services and customer satisfaction, providing valuable insights for future research.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of behavioral finance factors on the investment decisions of Gulf investors in the cryptocurrency market. Theoretical Framework: The study is based on the behavioral finance theory, which highlights the role of emotions and cognitive biases in shaping investment decisions. It examines the investment behavior and decision-making of Gulf investors in the cryptocurrency market using a comprehensive set of factors, including herding, heuristics, prospect, market, familiarity bias, and self-attribution bias. Design/Methodology/Approach: Primary data is collected through a survey-based approach using a 23-question distributed at the country level covering the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The study analyzes the data collected using statistical methods to study the impact of behavioral finance factors on the investment decisions. Findings: The results show that herding and heuristics strongly influence investment decisions in the cryptocurrency market among Gulf investors. The prospect factor positively affects investment decision-making in KSA and Qatar but not in UAE and Kuwait. The market factor is a significant determinant of investment behavior, and investors in UAE and Qatar are more cautious and risk-averse compared to KSA and Kuwait. The familiarity bias factor has different effects on investment decision making in KSA and UAE. Research, Practical & Social Implications: This study offers valuable insights into how behavioral finance factors impact investment decisions in the cryptocurrency market. These findings can be useful to investors and financial institutions in developing investment strategies that take into account the cognitive and emotional biases of investors. Originality/Value: The study uses a comprehensive set of behavioral finance factors and includes respondents from four Gulf countries. Therefore, the study contributes to the existing literature by providing unique insights into the investment behavior and decision-making of Gulf investors in the cryptocurrency market.