The following are monthly percentage price changes for four market indexes.

Compute the following.

a. Average monthly rate of return for each index

b. Standard deviation for each index

c. Covariance between the rates of return for the following indexes:

DJIA–S&P 500

S&P 500–Russell 2000

S&P 500–Nikkei

Russell 2000–Nikkei

d. The correlation coefficients for the same four combinations

e. Using the answers from parts (a), (b), and (d), calculate the expected return and standard deviation of a portfolio consisting of equal parts of (1) the S&P and the Russell 2000 and (2) the S&P and the Nikkei. Discuss the two portfolios.

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Month DJIA 0.03 0.07 -0.02 0.01 0.05 -0.06 S&P 500 0.02 0.06 Russell 2000 0.04 0.10 -0.04 0.03 0.11 -0.08 Nikkei 0.04 -0.02 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.06 -0.01 0.03 0.04 -0.04