Systematic Risk
Systematic risk refers to risk that affects the entire investment market, rather than the risk associated with a particular investment. Systematic risk is caused by external, or macroeconomic, factors. It is often measured by calculating the volatility of an asset or portfolio. Volatility is a measure of how much the value of an asset or portfolio changes over time. Systematic risk can also be reduced by diversification, which is spreading ones investments across different asset classes.
Systematic risk is also known as market risk, or non-diversifiable risk. It is the risk that cannot be eliminated by diversifying a portfolio. This type of risk is caused by macroeconomic factors, such as the overall state of the economy, political changes, natural disasters, or other external influences. For example, if a countrys exchange rate decreases due to a political event, it will have an effect on the value of investments in that country, even if the individual company or investment did not cause the event.
Systematic risk can also be caused by specific industries or sectors. For example, if an automobile company declares bankruptcy, it could cause all stocks related to the auto industry to fall in value. Systematic risk is different from unsystematic risk, which is a specific risk associated with a particular issuer or sector. Unsystematic risk can be mitigated by diversification, while systematic risk cannot.
Systematic risk can be divided into two categories: business cycle risk and event risk. Business cycle risk is the risk of significant movements in the aggregate investments of all businesses in the economy. This could include recessions, upturns, and downturns. Event risk involves large, unexpected events that can cause broad movements in the market such as a terrorist attack, international crisis, or natural disaster.
In order to limit the effects of systematic risk, investors can take steps to reduce their exposure. They can use hedging strategies such as buying and selling derivatives, commodities, or currencies. They can also diversify their investments by investing in a variety of asset classes. Diversification reduces the impact that any single event or factor could have on the investors portfolio.
No investment strategy can guarantee a return, and all investments are subject to risk. Systematic risk is a particular type of risk that affects all investments in the market, and it is impossible to eliminate. However, by understanding the sources of risk, investors can develop effective strategies to limit their exposure to it and maximize their potential for profitable returns.