Incertitude about expected returns is one of the criteria which influence the largest number of strategic investment decisions. Thus the relationship between risk and return is a fundamentally financial relationship, because it affects expected rates of return on investment. This relationship between risks and returns holds true for individual investors and business managers. Returns are the financial rewards obtained as result of making an investment. There are different types of returns, depending on the investment. Investments could be bonds, loan, and shares. The definition of risk is more complex than the definition of return. A risk in investment is defined a significant possibility of having a return that is different from the expected return. There are two types of risk analyses; one is the stock market analysis for shares, and the other, about credit analysis for loans and bonds. We are going to focus on the first one which has more risks, and will also provide some details about the second one.
The target of the document is to understand the relationship between risk and return and thus be in a better position to achieve financial goals.
It is an established fact that there is a relationship between risk and return, is this a relevant concept which needs to be taken into account during a financial decision making process?
On one hand, it's necessary to know how recognize a risk and return relationship, and on the other, it is relevant to analyze if this relationship is positive or negative one for investor's decisions?
[...] Nevertheless the risk and return relationship may be positive for some investor decisions. The demand for risky investments is less. Thus, investors expect the returns to be superior to investment. There is an extra return expected for taking on the risk. Therefore the rate of return for risky investments is equal to the usual rate of return, plus the risk prime. These risk primes may have different natures. For example, the creators of Meetic have taken a huge risk, as the current success was not predictable at the outset. [...]
[...] The Risk and return relationship could have negative consequences on the investor's decision. It's negative because, they use some theories to minimize risk and maximize expected returns, and this makes them afraid to invest. Even if investors do not have the same degree of aversion to risk, they will all prefer a project with a low risk level, for the same return. Also everybody uses methods to assess the risk and return relationship, and to reduce risk for higher returns. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
