Managment
Types of Risk
Unfortunately, the concept of risk is not a simple concept in finance. There are many different types of risk identified and some types are relatively more or relatively less important in different situations and applications. In some theoretical models of economic or financial processes, for example, some types of risks or even all risk may be entirely eliminated. For the practitioner operating in the real world, however, risk can never be entirely eliminated. It is ever-present and must be identified and dealt with.
In the study of finance, there are a number of different types of risk the been identified. It is important to remember, however, that all types of risks exhibit the same positive risk-return relationship.
Some of the most important types of risk are defined below.
Default Risk
The uncertainty associated with the payment of financial obligations when they come due. Put simply, the risk of non-payment.
Interest Rate Risk
The uncertainty associated with the effects of changes in market interest rates. There are two types of interest rate risk identified; price risk and reinvestment rate risk. The price risk is sometimes referred to as maturity risk since the greater the maturity of an investment, the greater the change in price for a given change in interest rates. Both types of interest rate risks are important in banking and are addressed extensively in Bank Management classes.
Price Risk
The uncertainty associated with potential changes in the price of an asset caused by changes in interest rate levels and rates of return in the economy. This risk occurs because changes in interest rates affect changes in discount rates which, in turn, affect the present value of future cash flows. The relationship is an inverse relationship. If interest rates (and discount rates) rise, prices fall. The reverse is also true. Since interest rates directly affect discount rates and present values of future cash flows
Unfortunately, the concept of risk is not a simple concept in finance. There are many different types of risk identified and some types are relatively more or relatively less important in different situations and applications. In some theoretical models of economic or financial processes, for example, some types of risks or even all risk may be entirely eliminated. For the practitioner operating in the real world, however, risk can never be entirely eliminated. It is ever-present and must be identified and dealt with.
In the study of finance, there are a number of different types of risk the been identified. It is important to remember, however, that all types of risks exhibit the same positive risk-return relationship.
Some of the most important types of risk are defined below.
Default Risk
The uncertainty associated with the payment of financial obligations when they come due. Put simply, the risk of non-payment.
Interest Rate Risk
The uncertainty associated with the effects of changes in market interest rates. There are two types of interest rate risk identified; price risk and reinvestment rate risk. The price risk is sometimes referred to as maturity risk since the greater the maturity of an investment, the greater the change in price for a given change in interest rates. Both types of interest rate risks are important in banking and are addressed extensively in Bank Management classes.
Price Risk
The uncertainty associated with potential changes in the price of an asset caused by changes in interest rate levels and rates of return in the economy. This risk occurs because changes in interest rates affect changes in discount rates which, in turn, affect the present value of future cash flows. The relationship is an inverse relationship. If interest rates (and discount rates) rise, prices fall. The reverse is also true. Since interest rates directly affect discount rates and present values of future cash flows