- Market risk is the risk that the value of an investment will
decrease due to changes in market factors.
- Market risk, also called "systematic risk" cannot be eliminated
through diversification, though it can be hedged against in other
ways.
- Sources of market risk include political instability, economic
conditions, changes in interest rates, natural disasters etc.
- Systematic or market risk tend to influence the entire market
at the same time.
- Market (systematic) risk and specific risk (unsystematic) make
up the two major categories of investment risk. The most common
types of market risk include interest rate risk, equity risk,
currency risk and commodity risk.
- Detailed explanation of standard market risk factors is given
below:
- Equity risk: The risk that share prices will change.
- Commodity risk: The likelihood that a commodity price, such as
that of a metal or grain, will change.
- Currency risk: The probability that foreign exchange rates will
change.
- Interest rate risk: The risk that interest rates will go up or
down.
- Inflation risk: The risk that overall rises in the prices of
goods and services will undermine the value of money, and probably
adversely impact the value of investment.
- Risk can be reduced to some extent if you diversify your
investments, i.e. widen your portfolio. However it is impossible to
eliminate all risks. Some market risks are not possible to prevent
or foresee.
Example: Recently with global steel prices nosediving while
production costs rise, Tata steel, one of the largest steel maker,
reported a profit of ₹702 crore in the June 2019 quarter, falling
63% year on year. The company had reported consolidated net profit
if ₹1934 in the year ago period. Due to which the company share
prices haves fallen.