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This paper employs the R software in identifying the most suitable ARMA model for forecasting the growth rate of the exchange rate between the US dollar and a unit of the British pound. The data is systematically split into two distinct periods identified as the in-sample period and the out of sample period. The best model selected for the in-sample period is used to make forecasts for the out of sample period. Both traditional and rolling window forecasting methods are employed. This research uses the MSE, MAE, MAPE and correct sign prediction criterion to compare the forecasting performance of the rolling window forecasting method and the traditional forecasting method. The results obtained suggest that the traditional forecasting method performs better judging by MSE, MAE and MAPE. In other words, the traditional forecasting method is more suitable for predicting the magnitude (i.e., size) by which the US /UK exchange rate changes over time. However, the results also suggest that the rolling window forecasting method performs better based on the correct sign prediction criterion. In other words, the rolling window forecasting method is more appropriate for predicting the changes in the sign of the US /UK exchange rate. 

 This paper utilizes the Least Squares Dummy Variables (LSDV) technique in investigating the effect of financial depth on economic growth within a sample of middle-income countries, over the period 2005–2017. The research finds that financial depth has a negative impact on real GDP growth within middle-income countries. This result is robust to the use of alternative measures of financial depth, the use of per capita GDP growth as a proxy for economic growth, the inclusion of dummy variables to control for the 2007–2010 global financial crisis, the exclusion of countries with high average growth as well as across income levels. Based on its findings, this study recommends the need for robust regulations to ensure that the credit facilities of domestic financial institutions are channeled towards productive investments rather than debt servicing.