Question

A European growth mutual fund specializes in stocks from the British Isles, continental Europe, and Scandinavia. The fund has over 450 stocks. Let x be a random variable that represents the monthly percentage return for this fund. Suppose x has mean μ = 1.2% and standard deviation σ = 1.3%.

(a) Let's consider the monthly return of the stocks in the fund to be a sample from the population of monthly returns of all European stocks. Is it reasonable to assume that x (the average monthly return on the 450 stocks in the fund) has a distribution that is approximately normal? Explain.

---Select--- Yes No , x is a mean of a sample of n = 450 stocks. By the  ---Select--- theory of normality law of large numbers central limit theorem , the x distribution  ---Select--- is is not approximately normal.

(b) After 9 months, what is the probability that the average monthly percentage return x will be between 1% and 2%? (Round your answer to four decimal places.)


(c) After 18 months, what is the probability that the average monthly percentage return x will be between 1% and 2%? (Round your answer to four decimal places.)


(d) Compare your answers to parts (b) and (c). Did the probability increase as n (number of months) increased? Why would this happen?

No, the probability stayed the same.Yes, probability increases as the mean increases.     Yes, probability increases as the standard deviation decreases.Yes, probability increases as the standard deviation increases.

(e) If after 18 months the average monthly percentage return x is more than 2%, would that tend to shake your confidence in the statement that μ = 1.2%? If this happened, do you think the European stock market might be heating up? (Round your answer to four decimal places.)
P(x > 2%) =  

Explain.

This is very likely if μ = 1.2%. One would suspect that the European stock market may be heating up.This is very likely if μ = 1.2%. One would not suspect that the European stock market may be heating up.     This is very unlikely if μ = 1.2%. One would not suspect that the European stock market may be heating up.This is very unlikely if μ = 1.2%. One would suspect that the European stock market may be heating up.

Answer 1

(a)

Yes, x is a mean of a sample of n = 450 stocks. By the central limit theorem , the x distribution is approximately normal.

(b)

Here we have n=9

The z-score for is

The z-score for is

Using z table, the required probability is

(c)

Here we have n=18

The z-score for is

The z-score for is

Using z table, the required probability is

(d)

Yes, probability increases as the standard deviation decreases.

(e)

This is very unlikely if μ = 1.2%. One would suspect that the European stock market may be heating up.