Asked by arjun trivedi on May 03, 2024

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Explain some of the key differences between standard deviation and beta.

Standard Deviation

A statistic that measures the dispersion or variability of a dataset relative to its mean, used in finance to quantify the volatility of an investment.

Beta

A measure of a stock's volatility in relation to the overall market; it indicates the risk associated with a particular equity.

  • Comprehend the definitions and differences between systematic and unsystematic risk.
  • Describe and evaluate the importance of the beta coefficient in gauging systematic risk.
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Melissa BrownMay 10, 2024
Final Answer :
Standard deviation measures total risk, which includes both systematic and unsystematic risk. Beta measures systematic risk, which is the only risk which is rewarded by the market. A portfolio beta is the weighted average of the security betas held in the portfolio. The portfolio beta must lie between the highest and the lowest individual security beta. A portfolio standard deviation can be lower than that of any individual security within the portfolio due to the benefits of diversification.