Chap 006

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following statements regarding risk-averse investors is true?

A) They only care about the rate of return.
B) They accept investments that are fair games.
C) They only accept risky investments that offer risk premiums over the risk-free
rate.
D) They are willing to accept lower returns and high risk.
E) A and B.
Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate
2. Which of the following statements is (are) true?
I) Risk-averse investors reject investments that are fair games.

II) Risk-neutral investors judge risky investments only by the expected
returns.
III) Risk-averse investors judge investments only by their riskiness.
IV) Risk-loving investors will not engage in fair games.
A) I only
B) II only
C) I and II only
D) II and III only
E) II, III, and IV only

Rationale: Risk-averse investors consider a risky investment only if the investment
offers a risk premium. Risk-neutral investors look only at expected returns when
making an investment decision.
3. In the mean-standard deviation graph an indifference curve has a ________ slope.

A) negative
B) zero
C) positive
D) northeast
E) cannot be determined
Answer: C Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: The risk-return trade-off is one in which greater risk is taken if greater
returns can be expected, resulting in a positive slope.
4. In the mean-standard deviation graph, which one of the following statements is true
regarding the indifference curve of a risk-averse investor?
A) It is the locus of portfolios that have the same expected rates of return and
different standard deviations.
B) It is the locus of portfolios that have the same standard deviations and different
rates of return.
C) It is the locus of portfolios that offer the same utility according to returns and
standard deviations.
D) It connects portfolios that offer increasing utilities according to returns and
E) none of the above.

Rationale: Indifference curves plot trade-off alternatives that provide equal utility to
the individual (in this case, the trade-offs are the risk-return characteristics of the
portfolios).
5. In a return-standard deviation space, which of the following statements is (are) true

for risk-averse investors? (The vertical and horizontal lines are referred to as the
expected return-axis and the standard deviation-axis, respectively.)
I) An investor's own indifference curves might intersect.

II) Indifference curves have negative slopes.
III) In a set of indifference curves, the highest offers the greatest utility.
IV) Indifference curves of two investors might intersect.
A) I and II only
B) II and III only
C) I and IV only
D) III and IV only
E) none of the above
Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Rationale: An investor's indifference curves are parallel, and thus cannot intersect and
have positive slopes. The highest indifference curve (the one in the most northwestern
position) offers the greatest utility. Indifference curves of investors with similar risk-
return trade-offs might intersect.
Chapter 6 Risk Aversion and Capital Allocation to Risky Assets
6. Elias is a risk-averse investor. David is a less risk-averse investor than Elias.

Therefore,
A) for the same risk, David requires a higher rate of return than Elias.
B) for the same return, Elias tolerates higher risk than David.
C) for the same risk, Elias requires a lower rate of return than David.
D) for the same return, David tolerates higher risk than Elias.
E) cannot be determined.

Rationale: The more risk averse the investor, the less risk that is tolerated, given a rate
of return.
7. When an investment advisor attempts to determine an investor's risk tolerance, which

factor would they be least likely to assess?
A) the investor's prior investing experience
B) the investor's degree of financial security
C) the investor's tendency to make risky or conservative choices
D) the level of return the investor prefers
E) the investor's feeling about loss
Use the following to answer questions 8-9:
Assume an investor with the following utility function: U = E(r) - 3/2(s2).
8. To maximize her expected utility, she would choose the asset with an expected rate of
return of _______ and a standard deviation of ________, respectively.
A) 12%; 20%
B) 10%; 15%
C) 10%; 10%
D) 8%; 10%

Rationale: U = 0.10 - 3/2(0.10)2 = 8.5%; highest utility of choices.
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9. To maximize her expected utility, which one of the following investment alternatives
would she choose?
A) A portfolio that pays 10 percent with a 60 percent probability or 5 percent with 40
percent probability.
B) A portfolio that pays 10 percent with 40 percent probability or 5 percent with a 60
C) A portfolio that pays 12 percent with 60 percent probability or 5 percent with 40
D) A portfolio that pays 12 percent with 40 percent probability or 5 percent with 60
Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Rationale: U(c) = 9.02%; highest utility of possibilities.
10. A portfolio has an expected rate of return of 0.15 and a standard deviation of 0.15.
The risk-free rate is 6 percent. An investor has the following utility function: U =
E(r) - (A/2)s2. Which value of A makes this investor indifferent between the risky
portfolio and the risk-free asset?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer: D Difficulty: Difficult

Rationale: 0.06 = 0.15 - A/2(0.15)2; 0.06 - 0.15 = -A/2(0.0225); -0.09 = -0.01125A; A
= 8; U = 0.15 - 8/2(0.15)2 = 6%; U(Rf) = 6%.
11. According to the mean-variance criterion, which one of the following investments
dominates all others?
A) E(r) = 0.15; Variance = 0.20
B) E(r) = 0.10; Variance = 0.20
C) E(r) = 0.10; Variance = 0.25
D) E(r) = 0.15; Variance = 0.25
E) none of these dominates the other alternatives.
Answer: A Difficulty: Difficult

Rationale: A gives the highest return with the least risk; return per unit of risk is .75,
which dominates the reward-risk ratio for the other choices.
12. Consider a risky portfolio, A, with an expected rate of return of 0.15 and a standard
deviation of 0.15, that lies on a given indifference curve. Which one of the following
portfolios might lie on the same indifference curve?
A) E(r) = 0.15; Standard deviation = 0.20
B) E(r) = 0.15; Standard deviation = 0.10
C) E(r) = 0.10; Standard deviation = 0.10
D) E(r) = 0.20; Standard deviation = 0.15
E) E(r) = 0.10; Standard deviation = 0.20

Rationale: Portfolio A has a reward to risk ratio of 1.0; portfolio C is the only choice
with the same risk-return tradeoff.
13. Based on the utility function above, which investment would you select?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) cannot tell from the information given

Rationale: U(c) = 0.21 - 4/2(0.16)2 = 15.88 (highest utility of choices).
14. Which investment would you select if you were risk neutral?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) cannot tell from the information given

Rationale: If you are risk neutral, your only concern is with return, not risk.
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15. The variable (A) in the utility function represents the:
A) investor's return requirement.
B) investor's aversion to risk.
C) certainty-equivalent rate of the portfolio.
D) minimum required utility of the portfolio.
Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

Rationale: A is an arbitrary scale factor used to measure investor risk tolerance. The
higher the value of A, the more risk averse the investor.
16. The exact indifference curves of different investors

A) cannot be known with perfect certainty.
B) can be calculated precisely with the use of advanced calculus.
C) although not known with perfect certainty, do allow the advisor to create more
suitable portfolios for the client.
D) A and C.
Answer: D Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: Indifference curves cannot be calculated precisely, but the theory does
allow for the creation of more suitable portfolios for investors of differing levels of
risk tolerance.
17. The riskiness of individual assets

A) should be considered for the asset in isolation.
B) should be considered in the context of the effect on overall portfolio volatility.
C) combined with the riskiness of other individual assets (in the proportions these
assets constitute of the entire portfolio) should be the relevant risk measure.
D) B and C.

Rationale: The relevant risk is portfolio risk; thus, the riskiness of an individual
security should be considered in the context of the portfolio as a whole.
18. A fair game

A) will not be undertaken by a risk-averse investor.
B) is a risky investment with a zero risk premium.
C) is a riskless investment.
D) Both A and B are true.
E) Both A and C are true.

Rationale: A fair game is a risky investment with a payoff exactly equal to its expected
value. Since it offers no risk premium, it will not be acceptable to a risk-averse
investor.
19. The presence of risk means that

A) investors will lose money.
B) more than one outcome is possible.
C) the standard deviation of the payoff is larger than its expected value.
D) final wealth will be greater than initial wealth.
E) terminal wealth will be less than initial wealth.
Answer: B Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: The presence of risk means that more than one outcome is possible.
20. The utility score an investor assigns to a particular portfolio, other things equal,
A) will decrease as the rate of return increases.
B) will decrease as the standard deviation increases.
C) will decrease as the variance increases.
D) will increase as the variance increases.
E) will increase as the rate of return increases.
Answer: E Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: Utility is enhanced by higher expected returns and diminished by higher
risk.
21. The certainty equivalent rate of a portfolio is

A) the rate that a risk-free investment would need to offer with certainty to be
considered equally attractive as the risky portfolio.
B) the rate that the investor must earn for certain to give up the use of his money.
C) the minimum rate guaranteed by institutions such as banks.
D) the rate that equates “A” in the utility function with the average risk aversion
coefficient for all risk-averse investors.
E) represented by the scaling factor “-.005” in the utility function.
Answer: A Difficulty: Moderate
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22. According to the mean-variance criterion, which of the statements below is correct?
A) Investment B dominates Investment A.

B) Investment B dominates Investment C.
C) Investment D dominates all of the other investments.
D) Investment D dominates only Investment B.
E) Investment C dominates investment A.

Rationale: This question tests the student's understanding of how to apply the mean-
variance criterion.
23. Steve is more risk-averse than Edie. On a graph that shows Steve and Edie's
indifference curves, which of the following is true? Assume that the graph shows
expected return on the vertical axis and standard deviation on the horizontal axis.
I) Steve and Edie's indifference curves might intersect.

II) Steve's indifference curves will have flatter slopes than Edie's.
III) Steve's indifference curves will have steeper slopes than Edie's.
IV) Steve and Edie's indifference curves will not intersect.
V) Steve's indifference curves will be downward sloping and Edie's will be
upward sloping.
A) I and V
B) I and III
C) III and IV
D) I and II
E) II and IV

Rationale: This question tests whether the student understands the graphical properties
of indifference curves and how they relate to the degree of risk tolerance.
24. The Capital Allocation Line can be described as the

A) investment opportunity set formed with a risky asset and a risk-free asset.
B) investment opportunity set formed with two risky assets.
C) line on which lie all portfolios that offer the same utility to a particular investor.
D) line on which lie all portfolios with the same expected rate of return and different

Rationale: The CAL has an intercept equal to the risk-free rate. It is a straight line
through the point representing the risk-free asset and the risky portfolio, in expected-
return/standard deviation space.
25. Which of the following statements regarding the Capital Allocation Line (CAL) is
false?
A) The CAL shows risk-return combinations.
B) The slope of the CAL equals the increase in the expected return of a risky
portfolio per unit of additional standard deviation.
C) The slope of the CAL is also called the reward-to-variability ratio.
D) The CAL is also called the efficient frontier of risky assets in the absence of a
risk-free asset.
E) Both A and D are true.

Rationale: The CAL consists of combinations of a risky asset and a risk-free asset
whose slope is the reward-to-variability ratio; thus, all statements except d are true.
26. Given the capital allocation line, an investor's optimal portfolio is the portfolio that
A) maximizes her expected profit.
B) maximizes her risk.
C) minimizes both her risk and return.
D) maximizes her expected utility.

Rationale: By maximizing expected utility, the investor is obtaining the best risk-
return relationships possible and acceptable for her.
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27. An investor invests 30 percent of his wealth in a risky asset with an expected rate of
return of 0.15 and a variance of 0.04 and 70 percent in a T-bill that pays 6 percent.
His portfolio's expected return and standard deviation are __________ and
__________, respectively.
A) 0.114; 0.12
B) 0.087;0.06
C) 0.295; 0.12
D) 0.087; 0.12

Rationale: E(rP) = 0.3(15%) + 0.7(6%) = 8.7%; sP = 0.3(0.04)1/2 = 6%.
You invest $100 in a risky asset with an expected rate of return of 0.12 and a standard
deviation of 0.15 and a T-bill with a rate of return of 0.05.
28. What percentages of your money must be invested in the risky asset and the risk-free
asset, respectively, to form a portfolio with an expected return of 0.09?
A) 85% and 15%
B) 75% and 25%
C) 67% and 33%
D) 57% and 43%

Rationale: 9% = w1(12%) + (1 - w1)(5%); 9% = 12%w1 + 5% - 5%w1; 4% = 7%w1; w1
= 0.57; 1 - w1 = 0.43; 0.57(12%) + 0.43(5%) = 8.99%.
29. What percentages of your money must be invested in the risk-free asset and the risky
asset, respectively, to form a portfolio with a standard deviation of 0.06?
A) 30% and 70%
B) 50% and 50%
C) 60% and 40%
D) 40% and 60%

Rationale: 0.06 = x(0.15); x = 40% in risky asset.
30. A portfolio that has an expected outcome of $115 is formed by

A) investing $100 in the risky asset.
B) investing $80 in the risky asset and $20 in the risk-free asset.
C) borrowing $43 at the risk-free rate and investing the total amount ($143) in the
risky asset.
D) investing $43 in the risky asset and $57 in the riskless asset.
E) Such a portfolio cannot be formed.

Rationale: For $100, (115-100)/100=15%; .15 = w1(.12) + (1 - w1)(.05); .15 = .12w1
+ .05 - .05w1; 0.10 = 0.07w1; w1 = 1.43($100) = $143; (1 - w1)$100 = -$43.
31. The slope of the Capital Allocation Line formed with the risky asset and the risk-free
asset is equal to
A) 0.4667.
B) 0.8000.
C) 2.14.
D) 0.41667.
E) Cannot be determined.

Rationale: (0.12 - 0.05)/0.15 = 0.4667.
32. Consider a T-bill with a rate of return of 5 percent and the following risky securities:
Security A: E(r) = 0.15; Variance = 0.04

Security B: E(r) = 0.10; Variance = 0.0225
Security C: E(r) = 0.12; Variance = 0.01
Security D: E(r) = 0.13; Variance = 0.0625
From which set of portfolios, formed with the T-bill and any one of the 4 risky
securities, would a risk-averse investor always choose his portfolio?
A) The set of portfolios formed with the T-bill and security A.
B) The set of portfolios formed with the T-bill and security B.
C) The set of portfolios formed with the T-bill and security C.
D) The set of portfolios formed with the T-bill and security D.

Rationale: Security C has the highest reward-to-volatility ratio.
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You are considering investing $1,000 in a T-bill that pays 0.05 and a risky portfolio, P,
constructed with 2 risky securities, X and Y. The weights of X and Y in P are 0.60 and 0.40,
respectively. X has an expected rate of return of 0.14 and variance of 0.01, and Y has an
expected rate of return of 0.10 and a variance of 0.0081.
33. If you want to form a portfolio with an expected rate of return of 0.11, what
percentages of your money must you invest in the T-bill and P, respectively?
A) 0.25; 0.75
B) 0.19; 0.81
C) 0.65; 0.35
D) 0.50; 0.50

Rationale: E(rp) = 0.6(14%) + 0.4(10%) = 12.4%; 11% = 5x + 12.4(1 - x); x = 0.189
(T-bills) (1-x) =0.811 (risky asset).
34. If you want to form a portfolio with an expected rate of return of 0.10, what
percentages of your money must you invest in the T-bill, X, and Y, respectively if you
keep X and Y in the same proportions to each other as in portfolio P?
A) 0.25; 0.45; 0.30
B) 0.19; 0.49; 0.32
C) 0.32; 0.41; 0.27
D) 0.50; 0.30; 0.20

Rationale: E(rp) = .100.10 = 5w + 12.4(1 - w); x = 0.32 (weight of T-bills); As
composition of X and Y are .6 and .4 of P, respectively, then for 0.68 weight in P, the
respective weights must be 0.41 and 0.27; .6(.68) = 41%; .4(.68) = 27%
35. What would be the dollar values of your positions in X and Y, respectively, if you
decide to hold 40% percent of your money in the risky portfolio and 60% in T-bills?
A) $240; $360
B) $360; $240
C) $100; $240
D) $240; $160
E) Cannot be determined

Rationale: $400(0.6) = $240 in X; $400(0.4) = $160 in Y.
36. What would be the dollar value of your positions in X, Y, and the T-bills, respectively,
if you decide to hold a portfolio that has an expected outcome of $1,200?
A) Cannot be determined
B) $54; $568; $378
C) $568; $54; $378
D) $378; $54; $568
E) $108; $514; $378
Answer: B Difficulty: Difficult

Rationale: ($1,200 - $1,000)/$1,000 = 12%; (0.6)14% + (0.4)10% = 12.4%; 12% =
w5% + 12.4%(1 - w);w=.054; 1-w=.946; w = 0.054($1,000) = $54 (T-bills); 1 - w = 1
- 0.054 = 0.946($1,000) = $946; $946 x 0.6 = $568 in X; $946 x 0.4 = $378 in Y.
37. A reward-to-volatility ratio is useful in:

A) measuring the standard deviation of returns.
B) understanding how returns increase relative to risk increases.
C) analyzing returns on variable rate bonds.
D) assessing the effects of inflation.

Rationale: B is the only choice relevant to the reward-to-volatility ratio (risk and
return).
38. The change from a straight to a kinked capital allocation line is a result of:
A) reward-to-volatility ratio increasing.
B) borrowing rate exceeding lending rate.
C) an investor's risk tolerance decreasing.
D) increase in the portfolio proportion of the risk-free asset.
Answer: B Difficulty: Difficult

Rationale: The linear capital allocation line assumes that the investor may borrow and
lend at the same rate (the risk-free rate), which obviously is not true. Relaxing this
assumption and incorporating the higher borrowing rates into the model results in the
kinked capital allocation line.
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39. The first major step in asset allocation is:
A) assessing risk tolerance.
B) analyzing financial statements.
C) estimating security betas.
D) identifying market anomalies.

Rationale: A should be the first consideration in asset allocation. B, C, and D refer to
security selection.
40. Based on their relative degrees of risk tolerance

A) investors will hold varying amounts of the risky asset in their portfolios.
B) all investors will have the same portfolio asset allocations.
C) investors will hold varying amounts of the risk-free asset in their portfolios.
D) A and C.

Rationale: By determining levels of risk tolerance, investors can select the optimum
portfolio for their own needs; these asset allocations will vary between amounts of
risk-free and risky assets based on risk tolerance.
41. Asset allocation

A) may involve the decision as to the allocation between a risk-free asset and a risky
asset.
B) may involve the decision as to the allocation among different risky assets.
C) may involve considerable security analysis.
D) A and B.
E) A and C.

Rationale: A and B are possible steps in asset allocation. C is related to security
selection.
42. In the mean-standard deviation graph, the line that connects the risk-free rate and the
optimal risky portfolio, P, is called ______________.
A) the Security Market Line
B) the Capital Allocation Line
C) the Indifference Curve
D) the investor's utility line

Rationale: The Capital Allocation Line (CAL) illustrates the possible combinations of
a risk-free asset and a risky asset available to the investor.
43. Treasury bills are commonly viewed as risk-free assets because

A) their short-term nature makes their values insensitive to interest rate fluctuations.
B) the inflation uncertainty over their time to maturity is negligible.
C) their term to maturity is identical to most investors' desired holding periods.
D) Both A and B are true.
E) Both B and C are true.

Rationale: Treasury bills do not exactly match most investor's desired holding periods,
but because they mature in only a few weeks or months they are relatively free of
interest rate sensitivity and inflation uncertainty.
Your client, Bo Regard, holds a complete portfolio that consists of a portfolio of risky assets
(P) and T-Bills. The information below refers to these assets.
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44. What is the expected return on Bo's complete portfolio?
A) 10.32%
B) 5.28%
C) 9.62%
D) 8.44%
E) 7.58%
Answer: A Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: E(rC) = .8*12.00% + .2*3.6% = 10.32%
45. What is the standard deviation of Bo's complete portfolio?

A) 7.20%
B) 5.40%
C) 6.92%
D) 4.98%
E) 5.76%
Answer: E Difficulty: Easy

Rationale: Std. Dev. of C = .8*7.20% = 5.76%
46. What is the equation of Bo's Capital Allocation Line?

A) E(rC) = 7.2 + 3.6 * Standard Deviation of C
B) E(rC) = 3.6 + 1.167 * Standard Deviation of C
C) E(rC) = 3.6 + 12.0 * Standard Deviation of C
D) E(rC) = 0.2 + 1.167 * Standard Deviation of C
E) E(rC) = 3.6 + 0.857 * Standard Deviation of C

Rationale: The intercept is the risk-free rate (3.60%) and the slope is (12.00%-
3.60%)/7.20% = 1.167.
47. What are the proportions of Stocks A, B, and C, respectively in Bo's complete
portfolio?
A) 40%, 25%, 35%
B) 8%, 5%, 7%
C) 32%, 20%, 28%
D) 16%, 10%, 14%
E) 20%, 12.5%, 17.5%

Rationale: Proportion in A = .8 * 40% = 32%; proportion in B = .8 * 25% = 20%;
proportion in C = .8 * 35% = 28%.
48. To build an indifference curve we can first find the utility of a portfolio with 100% in
the risk-free asset, then
A) find the utility of a portfolio with 0% in the risk-free asset.
B) change the expected return of the portfolio and equate the utility to the standard
deviation.
C) find another utility level with 0% risk.
D) change the standard deviation of the portfolio and find the expected return the
investor would require to maintain the same utility level.
E) change the risk-free rate and find the utility level that results in the same standard
deviation.

Rationale: This references the procedure described on page 207-208 of the text. The
authors describe how to trace out indifference curves using a spreadsheet.
49. The Capital Market Line
I) is a special case of the Capital Allocation Line.

II) represents the opportunity set of a passive investment strategy.
III) has the one-month T-Bill rate as its intercept.
IV) uses a broad index of common stocks as its risky portfolio.
A) I, III, and IV
B) II, III, and IV
C) III and IV
D) I, II, and III
E) I, II, III, and IV
Answer: E Difficulty: Moderate

Rationale: 'The Capital Market Line is the Capital Allocation Line based on the one-
month T-Bill rate and a broad index of common stocks. It applies to an investor
pursuing a passive management strategy.
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A) 0.114; 0.112
B) 0.087; 0.063
C) 0.096; 0.126
D) 0.087; 0.144

Rationale: E(rP) = 0.4(18%) + 0.6(4%) = 9.6%; sP = 0.4(0.10)1/2 = 12.6%.
A) 0.086; 0.242
B) 0.087; 0.267
C) 0.295; 0.123
D) 0.087; 0.182

Rationale: E(rP) = 0.7(11%) + 0.3(3%) = 8.6%; sP = 0.7(0.12)1/2 = 24.2%.
A) 85% and 15%
B) 75% and 25%
C) 62.5% and 37.5%
D) 57% and 43%

Rationale: 8% = w1(11%) + (1 - w1)(3%); 8% = 11%w1 + 3% - 3%w1; 5% = 8%w1; w1
= 0.625; 1 - w1 = 0.375; 0.625(11%) + 0.375(3%) = 8.0%.
A) 30% and 70%
B) 50% and 50%
C) 60% and 40%
D) 40% and 60%

asset is equal to
A) 0.47
B) 0.80
C) 2.14
D) 0.40

Rationale: (0.11 - 0.03)/0.20 = 0.40.
A) 53.8% and 46.2%
B) 75% and 25%
C) 62.5% and 37.5%
D) 46.1% and 53.8%

Rationale: 11% = w1(17%) + (1 - w1)(4%); 11% = 17%w1 + 4% - 4%w1; 7% = 13%w1;
w1 = 0.538; 1 - w1 = 0.461; 0.538(17%) + 0.462(4%) = 11.0%.
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A) 30% and 70%
B) 50% and 50%
C) 60% and 40%
D) 40% and 60%

asset is equal to
A) 0.325.
B) 0.675.
C) 0.912.
D) 0.407.

Rationale: (0.17 - 0.04)/0.40 = 0.325.
Essay Questions
58. Discuss the differences between investors who are risk averse, risk neutral, and risk
loving.
Difficulty: Easy
Answer:
The investor who is risk averse will take additional risk only if that risk-taking is
likely to be rewarded with a risk premium. This investor examines the potential risk-
return trade-offs of investment alternatives. The investor who is risk neutral looks
only at the expected returns of the investment alternative and does not consider risk;
this investor will select the investment alternative with the highest expected rate of
return. The risk lover will engage in fair games and gambles; this investor adjusts the
expected return upward to take into account the "fun" of confronting risk.
The purpose of this question is to ascertain that the student understands the different
attitudes toward risk exhibited by different individuals.
59. In the utility function: U = E(r) - -0.005As2, what is the significance of "A"?
Difficulty: Easy
Answer:
A is simply a scale factor indicating the investor's degree of risk aversion. The higher
the value of A, the more risk averse the investor. Of course, the investment advisor
must spend some time with client, either via personal conversation or the
administration of a "risk tolerance quiz" in order to assign the appropriate value of A
to a given investor.
The rationale for this question is to ascertain whether the student understands the
meaning of the variable, A. This variable, as such, is not presented in most
investments texts and it is important that the student understands how the investment
advisor assigns a value to A.
60. What is a fair game? Explain how the term relates to a risk-averse investor's attitude
toward speculation and risk and how the utility function reflects this attitude.
Difficulty: Moderate
Answer:
A fair game is a prospect that has a zero risk premium. Investors who are risk averse
reject investment portfolios that are fair games or worse. They will consider risk-free
investments and risky investments with positive risk premiums. The risk-averse
investor “penalizes” the expected rate of return of a risky portfolio by a certain percent
to account for the risk involved. The risk-averse investor's utility function favors
expected return and disfavors risk, as measured by variance of returns. In the utility
function U=E(R) - .005A*Variance, the risk-averse investor has a positive “A” value
so that the second term reduces the level of utility as the variance increases.
This question tests whether the student understands the interrelationships between the
terms risk, risk premium, speculation, and fair game, and how these terms are
quantified by a utility function.
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61. Draw graphs that represent indifference curves for the following investors: Harry, who
is a risk-averse investor; Eddie, who is a risk-neutral investor; and Ozzie, who is a
risk-loving investor. Discuss the nature of each curve and the reasons for its shape.
Answer:
The graph for Harry should show upward-sloping curves because he needs to be
compensated with additional expected return to maintain a certain level of satisfaction
when he takes on more risk. Eddie should have horizontal indifference curves,
parallel to the X axis. Since he is risk-neutral, he only cares about expected return.
The higher the expected return, the higher his utility. Ozzie's curves will be
downward sloping. The fact that he likes risk means that he is willing to forego some
expected return to have the opportunity to take on more risk.
This question allows the student to review the concepts of attitude toward risk and
utility as they related to the resulting indifference curves.
62. Toby and Hannah are two risk-averse investors. Toby is more risk-averse than
Hannah. Draw one indifference curve for Toby and one indifference curve for
Hannah on the same graph. Show how these curves illustrate their relative levels of
risk aversion.
Answer:
The curves may or may not intersect within the range of the graph. Toby's curve will
have a steeper slope than Hannah's. The levels of risk aversion can be illustrated by
examining the curves' slopes over a fixed range. Because Toby's curve is steeper than
Hannah's, for a fixed change in standard deviation on the horizontal axis, he will have
a greater change in expected return on the vertical axis. It takes more compensation in
the form of expected return to allow Toby to maintain his level of utility than it takes
for Hannah.
This question tests whether the student understands the nature of indifference curves
and how the risk-return tradeoff is related to the level of risk aversion.
63. Discuss the characteristics of indifference curves, and the theoretical value of these
curves in the portfolio building process
Answer:
Indifference curves represent the trade-off between two variables. In portfolio
building, the choice is between risk and return. The investor is indifferent between all
possible portfolios lying on one indifference curve. However, indifference curves are
contour maps, with all curves parallel to each other. The curve plotting in the most
northwest position is the curve offering the greatest utility to the investor. However,
this most desirable curve may not be attainable in the market place. The point of
tangency between an indifference curve (representing what is desirable) and the
capital allocation line (representing what is possible). is the optimum portfolio for that
investor.
This question is designed to ascertain that the student understands the concepts of
utility, what is desirable by the investor, what is possible in the market place, and how
to optimize an investor's portfolio, theoretically.
64. Describe how an investor may combine a risk-free asset and one risky asset in order to
obtain the optimal portfolio for that investor.
Answer:
The investor may combine a risk-free asset (U. S. T-bills or a money market mutual
fund and a risky asset, such as an indexed mutual fund in the proper portions to obtain
the desired risk-return relationship for that investor. The investor must realize that the
risk-return relationship is a linear one, and that in order to earn a higher return, the
investor must be willing to assume more risk. The investor must first determine the
amount of risk that he or she can tolerate (in terms of the standard deviation of the
total portfolio, which is the product of the proportion of total assets invested in the
risky asset and the standard deviation of the risky asset). One minus this weight is the
proportion of total assets to be invested in the risk-free asset. The portfolio return is
the weighted averages of the returns on the two respective assets. Such an asset
allocation plan is probably the easiest, most efficient, and least expensive for the
individual investor to build an optimal portfolio.
This question is designed to insure that the student understands ,how using the simple
strategy of combining two mutual funds, the investor can build an optimal portfolio,
based on the investor's risk tolerance.
134
65. The optimal proportion of the risky asset in the complete portfolio is given by the
equation y* = [E(rP)-rf] / (.01A*Variance of P). For each of the variables on the right
side of the equation, discuss the impact the variable's effect on y* and why the nature
of the relationship makes sense intuitively. Assume the investor is risk averse.
Difficulty: Difficult
Answer:
The optimal proportion in y is the one that maximizes the investor's utility. Utility is
positively related to the risk premium [E(rP)-rf]. This makes sense because the more
expected return an investor gets, the happier he is. The variable “A” represents the
degree of risk aversion. As risk aversion increases, “A” increases. This causes y* to
decrease because we are dividing by a higher number. It makes sense that a more risk-
averse investor would hold a smaller proportion of his complete portfolio in the risky
asset and a higher proportion in the risk-free asset. Finally, the standard deviation of
the risky portfolio is inversely related to y*. As P's risk increases, we are again
dividing by a larger number, making y* smaller. This corresponds with the risk-
averse investor's dislike of risk as measured by standard deviation.
This allows the students to explore the nature of the equation that was derived by
maximizing the investor's expected utility. The student can illustrate an understanding
of the variables that supersedes the application of the equation in calculating the
optimal proportion in P.
66. You are evaluating two investment alternatives. One is a passive market portfolio
with an expected return of 10% and a standard deviation of 16%. The other is a fund
that is actively managed by your broker. This fund has an expected return of 15% and
a standard deviation of 20%. The risk-free rate is currently 7%. Answer the questions
below based on this information.
a. What is the slope of the Capital Market Line?
b. What is the slope of the Capital Allocation Line offered by your broker's fund?
c. Draw the CML and the CAL on one graph.
d. What is the maximum fee your broker could charge and still leave you as well off
as if you had invested in the passive market fund? (Assume that the fee would be
a percentage of the investment in the broker's fund, and would be deducted at the
end of the year.)
e. How would it affect the graph if the broker were to charge the full amount of the
fee?
Difficulty: Difficult
Answer:
a. The slope of the CML is (10-7)/16 = 0.1875.
b. The slope of the CAL is (15-7)/20= 0.40.
c. On the graph, both the CML and the CAL have an intercept equal to the risk-free
rate (7%). The CAL, with a slope of 0.40, is steeper than the CML, with a slope of
0.1875.
d. To find the maximum fee the broker can charge, the equation (15-7-fee)/20 =
0.1875 is solved for “fee”. The resulting fee is 4.25%.
e. If the broker charges the full amount of the fee, the CAL's slope would also be
0.1875, so it would rotate down and be identical to the CML.
This question tests both the application of CAL/CML calculations and the concepts
involved.
136

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Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following statements regarding risk-averse investors is true?

Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate

2. Which of the following statements is (are) true?

I) Risk-averse investors reject investments that are fair games.

Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate

3. In the mean-standard deviation graph an indifference curve has a ________ slope.

Answer: C Difficulty: Easy

Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate

5. In a return-standard deviation space, which of the following statements is (are) true

I) An investor's own indifference curves might intersect.

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

6. Elias is a risk-averse investor. David is a less risk-averse investor than Elias.

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

7. When an investment advisor attempts to determine an investor's risk tolerance, which

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Use the following to answer questions 8-9:

Assume an investor with the following utility function: U = E(r) - 3/2(s2).

Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: D Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: A Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Use the following to answer questions 13-15:

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: D Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

16. The exact indifference curves of different investors

Answer: D Difficulty: Easy

17. The riskiness of individual assets

Answer: D Difficulty: Easy

18. A fair game

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

19. The presence of risk means that

Answer: B Difficulty: Easy

Answer: E Difficulty: Easy

21. The certainty equivalent rate of a portfolio is

Answer: A Difficulty: Moderate

A) Investment B dominates Investment A.

Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

I) Steve and Edie's indifference curves might intersect.

Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

24. The Capital Allocation Line can be described as the

Answer: A Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

Use the following to answer questions 28-31:

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: C Difficulty: Moderate

30. A portfolio that has an expected outcome of $115 is formed by

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: A Difficulty: Moderate

Security A: E(r) = 0.15; Variance = 0.04

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: B Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: C Difficulty: Difficult

Answer: D Difficulty: Moderate

Answer: B Difficulty: Difficult

37. A reward-to-volatility ratio is useful in: