On some questions concerning permanents of (1,−1)-matrices

Let Ω _n denote the set of alln×n-(1,?1)-matrices. E.T.H. Wang has posed the following problem: For eachn≧4, can one always find nonsingularA∈Ω _n such that |perA|=|detA| (*)? We present a solution forn≦6 and, more generally, we show that (*) does not hold ifn=2 ^k ?1,k≧2, even for singularA∈Ω _n . Moreover, we prove that perA≠0 ifA∈Ω _n ,n=2 ^k ?1, and we derive new results concerning the divisibility of the permanent in Ω _n by powers of 2.