Abstract

This manuscript offers an empirical investigation of three variables that have an effect on the financial
performance of the corporations listed in the Palestine Securities Exchange (PSE). The three variables are aboard
of directors’ characteristics (size and composition), b- management ownership, and c- capital structure.
Furthermore, this paper uses the same methodology as (Belkhir, 2009; Pesamaa, Klaesson, and Haahti, 2008;
Ghosh, 2003; Dowen, 1995). It employs various statistical techniques to examine the hypotheses (descriptive
analysis, and ordinary least square; simple and multiple regression). Besides, 28 Palestinian corporations were
selected for applying statistical analysis within four years 2005-2008. The results of the study indicate that the
Chief Executive Officer CEO-Chairman separation does not have any significant impact while the
CEO-Chairman duality has a significant impact on the financial performance. Additionally, the paper finds out
that the board size has a significant negative impact on the financial performance. In addition, this paper
concludes a positive impact of management ownership on the financial performance. Finally, we conclude that
the debt financing has no influence on the profitability of Palestinian corporations. Therefore, we recommend the
Palestinian legislator to consider the findings of our paper when he decides to publish the Palestinian company
act. In the end, we hope that the Palestinian legislator to take in consideration the current model of Daraghma
and Alsinawi study when he issues the new Palestinian company law.

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