Faculty and Staff
Photo of Dr. Muhammad Umar

Dr. Muhammad Umar

Associate Professor

muhammad.umar@lau.edu.lb

Ext. 1524
AKSOB 1510
LAU Beirut 

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Muhammad Umar is an associate professor of finance in the Department of Finance & Accounting. His name appeared on the World’s Most Influential Researchers list (1% of the world), recognized by the Web of Science™ as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2022. He has robust research credentials and interests in sustainable finance, green finance, energy economics, financial and resource markets, investment and financial analysis, behavioral finance, empirical finance, financial risk management, portfolio management, and crypto assets. 

Teaching Interests 

Finance:

Accounting:

Research Interests

Selected Publications

Sun, T., Mirza, N., Umar, M., & Ktaish, F. (2024). When interest rates rise, ESG is still relevant–the case of banking firms. Finance Research Letters, 106128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106128

Yunis, M., Mirza, N., Safi, A., & Umar, M. (2024). Impact of audit quality and digital transformation on innovation efficiency: Role of financial risk-taking. Global Finance Journal, 62, 101026 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2024.101026

Umar, Z., Usman, M., Umar, M., & Ktaish, F. (2024). Interdependencies and risk management strategies between green cryptocurrencies and traditional energy sources. Energy Economics, 136, 107742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107742

Su, C. W., Song, X. Y., Qin, M., Lobonţ, O. R., & Umar, M. (2024). Optimistic or pessimistic: How do investors impact the green bond market?. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 102248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2024.102248

Mirza, N., Umar, M., Horobet, A., & Boubaker, S. (2024). Effects of climate change and technological capex on credit risk cycles in the European Union. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 204, 123448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123448

Mirza, N., Rizvi, S. K. A., Naqvi, B., & Umar, M. (2024). Inflation prediction in emerging economies: Machine learning and FX reserves integration for enhanced forecasting. International Review of Financial Analysis, 94, 103238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103238

Umar, M., Ji, X., Safi, A., & Afshan, S. (2024). Decentralization, institutional quality, and carbon neutrality: Unraveling the nexus in China’s pursuit of sustainable development. Economic Analysis and Policy, 82, 1238-1249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2024.05.008

Safi, A., Kchouri, B., Elgammal, W., Nicolas, M. K., & Umar, M. (2024). Bridging the green gap: Do green finance and digital transformation influence sustainable development?. Energy Economics, 134, 107566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107566

Ali, S., Umar, M., Naveed, M., & Shan, S. (2024). Assessing the impact of renewable energy tokens on BRICS stock markets: A new diversification approach. Energy Economics, 134, 107523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107523

Mirza, N., Umar, M., Sbia, R., & Jasmina, M. (2024). The impact of blue and green lending on credit portfolios: a commercial banking perspective. Review of Accounting and Finance. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAF-11-2023-0389

Awards