As explained in chapter 5, risk measures such as standard variation and beta equate risk to...
Fantastic news! We've Found the answer you've been seeking!
Question:
Transcribed Image Text:
As explained in chapter 5, risk measures such as standard variation and beta equate risk to volatility. In other words, the more volatile the historical returns from specific financial assets, the riskier the asset is deemed to be. Historical volatility patterns are also used in models such as value at risk models. The Swiss franc appreciated sharply against the euro at the time of the Eurozone's debt crisis in 2010/11, mainly due to its status as a safe haven in times of stress. The potentially negative impact of a strong currency on the country's exporter competitiveness was part of the motivation for the decision of the Swiss central bank set a goal of keeping its currency from rising beyond 1.20 francs to the euro in September 2011. On January 15, 2015 the Swiss National Bank announced that the cap would be dropped. The move came as a shock for the markets and had a dramatic impact on currency markets and regional stock exchanges. The franc appreciated sharply against the US $, reaching a gain of 25% against the dollar at one point during the day of the announcement and closing the day with a gain of about 12%. The Swiss franc also appreciated against regional currencies, including the euro, the Hungarian forint and especially the Polish zloty. The Swiss stock exchange, as well as stock exchanges in Poland and Hungary, also dropped sharply, with the Swiss Performance Index (SPI) closing 8.6% down on the day of the announcement. As a result, several currency traders and hedge funds suffered dramatic losses. For example, the Everest Capital LLC Global hedge fund was closed due to losses, the currency broker Alpari went into administration and the Asia Macro fund from Aspect Capital Ltd. lost about 11% in January 2015. Many of these institutions used value at risk model (VAR) risk modelling. Value at risk models estimate the largest loss that an institution is likely to lose in one day, given a specific probability. For example, a one day 1% VaR of $8 million refers to the largest loss that the portfolio manager is likely to lose 99% of the time. VaR modelling is largely based on past volatility. Since the Swiss franc's daily movements since 2011 had been artificially low, the maximum predicted losses on for Swiss franc traders would also have been very small. The time period 2011-15, when the Swiss central bank capped the Swiss/euro exchange rate, provides a vivid example of a period of low volatility, where the risk models based on past volatility suggest that risk has decreased substantially. Consequently, it will signal to risk managers that it is appropriate to increase risk taking, for example through increased use of leverage. This was apparently what happened in the case of many currency traders and hedge funds. The market movement on January 15, 2015 underlines the danger of basing risk measurement on past volatility. It also points to the importance of taking a multi- dimensional approach to risk modelling and risk management. Since market conditions change constantly, risk modelling cannot rely solely on historical risk patterns and must be complemented by, for instance, scenario analysis. Questions 1. In modern portfolio theory, the quantification of risk/risk measurement is based on past volatility. Explain the limitations of using past volatility as a measure of risk, referring to the Swiss central bank decision in this case study. 2. Do examples like this mean that volatility is never a good indication of risk? As explained in chapter 5, risk measures such as standard variation and beta equate risk to volatility. In other words, the more volatile the historical returns from specific financial assets, the riskier the asset is deemed to be. Historical volatility patterns are also used in models such as value at risk models. The Swiss franc appreciated sharply against the euro at the time of the Eurozone's debt crisis in 2010/11, mainly due to its status as a safe haven in times of stress. The potentially negative impact of a strong currency on the country's exporter competitiveness was part of the motivation for the decision of the Swiss central bank set a goal of keeping its currency from rising beyond 1.20 francs to the euro in September 2011. On January 15, 2015 the Swiss National Bank announced that the cap would be dropped. The move came as a shock for the markets and had a dramatic impact on currency markets and regional stock exchanges. The franc appreciated sharply against the US $, reaching a gain of 25% against the dollar at one point during the day of the announcement and closing the day with a gain of about 12%. The Swiss franc also appreciated against regional currencies, including the euro, the Hungarian forint and especially the Polish zloty. The Swiss stock exchange, as well as stock exchanges in Poland and Hungary, also dropped sharply, with the Swiss Performance Index (SPI) closing 8.6% down on the day of the announcement. As a result, several currency traders and hedge funds suffered dramatic losses. For example, the Everest Capital LLC Global hedge fund was closed due to losses, the currency broker Alpari went into administration and the Asia Macro fund from Aspect Capital Ltd. lost about 11% in January 2015. Many of these institutions used value at risk model (VAR) risk modelling. Value at risk models estimate the largest loss that an institution is likely to lose in one day, given a specific probability. For example, a one day 1% VaR of $8 million refers to the largest loss that the portfolio manager is likely to lose 99% of the time. VaR modelling is largely based on past volatility. Since the Swiss franc's daily movements since 2011 had been artificially low, the maximum predicted losses on for Swiss franc traders would also have been very small. The time period 2011-15, when the Swiss central bank capped the Swiss/euro exchange rate, provides a vivid example of a period of low volatility, where the risk models based on past volatility suggest that risk has decreased substantially. Consequently, it will signal to risk managers that it is appropriate to increase risk taking, for example through increased use of leverage. This was apparently what happened in the case of many currency traders and hedge funds. The market movement on January 15, 2015 underlines the danger of basing risk measurement on past volatility. It also points to the importance of taking a multi- dimensional approach to risk modelling and risk management. Since market conditions change constantly, risk modelling cannot rely solely on historical risk patterns and must be complemented by, for instance, scenario analysis. Questions 1. In modern portfolio theory, the quantification of risk/risk measurement is based on past volatility. Explain the limitations of using past volatility as a measure of risk, referring to the Swiss central bank decision in this case study. 2. Do examples like this mean that volatility is never a good indication of risk?
Expert Answer:
Answer rating: 100% (QA)
Answer 1 The main limitation of using past volatility as a measure of risk is that it is based on historical data which may not be representative of future risk For example the Swiss franc appreciated ... View the full answer
Related Book For
Posted Date:
Students also viewed these accounting questions
-
The Crazy Eddie fraud may appear smaller and gentler than the massive billion-dollar frauds exposed in recent times, such as Bernie Madoffs Ponzi scheme, frauds in the subprime mortgage market, the...
-
Managing Scope Changes Case Study Scope changes on a project can occur regardless of how well the project is planned or executed. Scope changes can be the result of something that was omitted during...
-
Read the case study and answer the question below with a one page response. What does a SWOT analysis reveal about the overall attractiveness of Under Armours situation? Founded in 1996 by former...
-
Barbara buys 100 shares of DEM at $35 a share and 200 shares of GOP at $40 a share. She buys on margin and the broker charges interest of 10 percent on the loan. a. If the margin requirement is 55...
-
The Sarbanes- Oxley Act was passed by the U. S. Congress in 2002, following financial reporting disasters of Enron Corp. and WorldCom Inc. (Section 1.2). Section 404 of the Act required that senior...
-
(a) The curve with equation y2 = x3 3x2 is called the Tschirnhausen cubic. Find an equation of the tangent line to this curve at the point (1, 2). (b) At what points does this curve have a...
-
A prototype fan has a \(20-\mathrm{ft}\) diameter, an inlet pressure of \(14.40 \mathrm{psia}\), an inlet temperature of \(70^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\), and a speed of \(90 \mathrm{rpm}\). A...
-
The Park Plaza Hotel awarded its valet and laundry concession to Larson for a three-year term. The contract contained the following provision: It is distinctly understood and agreed that the services...
-
If someone were to ask you how the dominant class seeks to limit access to a society's resources through their control of that society's social institutions, how would you respond to them? What...
-
The July transactions of Acorn Industries are described in Problem 7-2B. Problem 7-2B, Acorn Industries completes these transactions during July of the current year (the terms of all its credit sales...
-
For the following entry, using the Chart of Accounts provided, clearly specify which account number is debited and which account number is credited. Received interest revenue from the bank.. QUIZ 1...
-
Compute conversion costs given the following data: direct materials, $363,200; direct labor, $204,600; factory overhead, $192,100 and selling expenses, $39,100.
-
Describe what a financial system is and the role of financial firms. What is the purpose of regulation within the financial system? In your opinion, are regulators proactive or reactive in writing...
-
Kathy wants to invest 3,500 into her trust fund policy which would gain 3% interest per year. In 5 years how much interest would she have earned?
-
Discuss the specific core function of sell side and buy side of capital market. Who are in the buy side and on the sell side of capital markets and their function? Explain and give example.
-
the pros and cons of coaching or mentoring as a management tool. Are coaching and mentoring effective training methods? Have you coached or been coached by someone in the workplace.
-
You are asked by company XYZ Pty Ltd to investigate Mr Long Fingers, for the loss of money under suspicious circumstances. Evidence obtained is a photostat copy of a letter to the suspect (Long...
-
A Bloomberg Businessweek subscriber study asked, In the past 12 months, when traveling for business, what type of airline ticket did you purchase most often? A second question asked if the type of...
-
Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton amassed an enormous fortune in discount retailing, one of the most viciously competitive markets imaginable. How is this possible?
-
Discuss the role of common costs in pricing practice.
-
Olympia Natural Resources, Inc., and Yakima Lumber, Ltd., supply cut logs (raw lumber) to lumber and paper mills located in the Cascades Mountain region in the state of Washington. Each company has a...
-
Discuss the employment-at-will doctrine.
-
Describe what is meant by retaliatory and constructive discharge and how to defend a claim for unfair discharge.
-
Describe effective hiring practices and the importance of clear communications.
Study smarter with the SolutionInn App