Editorial Note “Applied Financial Research”. Financial markets - A need for Reflection

Financial markets are nowadays significantly discussed and marked for fast changes on short term trends, which are depending on multiple factors that in current times are very active in the markets, whichever they are, in the area under analysis, i.e. the financial area. Presently, many troubles happen systematically in the markets, demanding for a broad discussion and a large debate in the most different fora. The financial markets bases have been questioned by academicians; and politicians are systematically confronted with new facts and they look lost in front of the changing reality resulting from often inadequate measures and mistaken economic politics. Theoretical foundations on finance and mainstream approaches are often away from reality and new paradigms seem to be necessary. In this number, methodologies are presented and a debate around trends and adequacies is explored, with approaches looking for attempts of getting solutions for financial problems and to explain the financial markets as much as proposing information and guidelines for investors and for decision makers in general.