In: Statistics and Probability
You do not need a lot of money to invest in a mutual fund. However, if you decide to put some money into an investment, you are usually advised to leave it in for (at least) several years. Why? Because good years tend to cancel out bad years, giving you a better overall return with less risk. To see what we mean, let's use a 3-year moving average on the Calvert Social Balanced Fund (a socially responsible fund).
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
% Return | 1.78 | 17.79 | 7.46 | 5.95 | −4.74 | 25.85 | 9.03 | 18.92 | 17.49 | 6.80 | −2.38 |
(a) Use a calculator with mean and standard deviation keys to find the mean and standard deviation of the annual return for all 11 years.
x | = | % |
s | = | % |
(b) To compute a 3-year moving average for 1992, we take the data
values for year 3 and the prior 2 years and average them. To
compute a 3-year moving average for year 4, we take the data values
for year 4 and the prior 2 years and average them. Verify that the
following 3-year moving averages are correct.
Year | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
3-year moving average | 9.01 | 10.40 | 2.89 | 9.02 | 10.05 | 17.93 | 15.15 | 14.40 | 7.30 |
(c) Use a calculator with mean and standard deviation keys to find the mean and standard deviation of the 3-year moving average.
x | = | % |
s | = | % |
(d) Compare the results of parts (a) and (c). Suppose we take the
point of view that risk is measured by standard deviation. Is the
risk (standard deviation) of the 3-year moving average considerably
smaller?
The means are fairly similar, but the standard deviation of moving averages is much lower. This implies the risk of the 3-year moving average is considerably greater.The means are fairly similar, but the standard deviation of moving averages is much higher. This implies the risk of the 3-year moving average is considerably greater. The means are fairly similar, but the standard deviation of moving averages is much lower. This implies the risk of the 3-year moving average is considerably smaller.The means are fairly similar, but the standard deviation of moving averages is much higher. This implies the risk of the 3-year moving average is considerably smaller.
a)
X | Mean, x̅ | x-x̅ | (x-x̅)² |
1.78 | 9.45 | -7.67 | 58.8289 |
17.79 | 9.45 | 8.34 | 69.5556 |
7.46 | 9.45 | -1.99 | 3.9601 |
5.95 | 9.45 | -3.5 | 12.25 |
-4.74 | 9.45 | -14.19 | 201.3561 |
25.85 | 9.45 | 16.4 | 268.96 |
9.03 | 9.45 | -0.42 | 0.1764 |
18.92 | 9.45 | 9.47 | 89.6809 |
17.49 | 9.45 | 8.04 | 64.6416 |
6.8 | 9.45 | -2.65 | 7.0225 |
-2.38 | 9.45 | -11.83 | 139.9489 |
∑x = 103.95
n = 11
∑(x-x̅)² = 916.381
Mean, x̅ = Ʃx/n = 103.95/11 = 9.45%
Standard deviation, s = √(Ʃ(x-x̅)²/(n-1)) = √(916.381/(11-1)) = 9.57%
b)
Month | Sales | Three month moving Average | |
1 | 1.78 | - | - |
2 | 17.79 | - | - |
3 | 7.46 | (1.78+17.79+7.46)/3 = | 9.01 |
4 | 5.95 | (17.79+7.46+5.95)/3 = | 10.40 |
5 | -4.74 | (7.46+5.95+-4.74)/3 = | 2.89 |
6 | 25.85 | (5.95+-4.74+25.85)/3 = | 9.02 |
7 | 9.03 | (-4.74+25.85+9.03)/3 = | 10.05 |
8 | 18.92 | (25.85+9.03+18.92)/3 = | 17.93 |
9 | 17.49 | (9.03+18.92+17.49)/3 = | 15.15 |
10 | 6.8 | (18.92+17.49+6.8)/3 = | 14.40 |
11 | -2.38 | (17.49+6.8+-2.38)/3 = | 7.30 |
c)
X | Mean, x̅ | x-x̅ | (x-x̅)² |
9.01 | 10.6833333 | -1.6733333 | 2.80004444 |
10.4 | 10.6833333 | -0.2833333 | 0.08027778 |
2.89 | 10.6833333 | -7.7933333 | 60.7360444 |
9.02 | 10.6833333 | -1.6633333 | 2.76667778 |
10.05 | 10.6833333 | -0.6333333 | 0.40111111 |
17.93 | 10.6833333 | 7.24666667 | 52.5141778 |
15.15 | 10.6833333 | 4.46666667 | 19.9511111 |
14.4 | 10.6833333 | 3.71666667 | 13.8136111 |
7.30 | 10.6833333 | -3.3833333 | 11.4469444 |
∑x = 96.15
n = 9
∑(x-x̅)² = 164.51
Mean, x̅ = Ʃx/n = 96.15/9 = 10.68%
Standard deviation, s = √(Ʃ(x-x̅)²/(n-1)) = √(164.51/(9-1)) = 4.53%
d)
The means are fairly similar, but the standard deviation of moving averages is much lower. This implies the risk of the 3-year moving average is considerably smaller.