FINS5513 Lecture 3A: Capital Allocation and Optimal Risky Portfolios
FINS5513 Lecture 3A: Capital Allocation and Optimal Risky Portfolios
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The Risk-Free Asset
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Brief Review
❑ Last week we introduced Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT)
❑ Portfolio optimisation under MPT is often called the Markowitz optimisation model
❑ We can think of the Markowitz model as having 3 steps:
➢ Last week we covered Step #1 of the Markowitz model – derivation of the efficient frontier
➢ We will find the point on the efficient frontier which provides the highest Sharpe ratio
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The Risk-Free Asset
❑ Previously we only considered risky assets
❑ Now let’s add a risk-free asset:
➢ Short-term Government bills (T-bills) are often considered as the risk-free asset, as they
have almost no default risk and limited interest rate risk
❑ The return on the risk-free asset (the “risk-free rate”) is denoted rf
❑ Even if we don’t take risk, we still want a positive return
➢ Hence 𝑟𝑓 is generally positive as shown
Risk-free
rf
rate
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Combining Risky and
Risk-Free Assets
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Video 3AV1: “What is a Cash Investment” Video 3AV2: “Vanguard: Moving to Cash”
❑ First, let’s denote all asset class returns and risks correctly:
➢ We have identified an efficient risky portfolio on the efficient frontier, and denote it 𝑃
Risk-Free Assets 𝑭 Risky Assets 𝑷
▪ T-Bills/Govt Bonds ▪ Equities: wE1,wE2,wE3… wEn
▪ Money Market Funds ▪ Risky bonds: wB1,wB2,wB3… wBn
▪ Bank Deposits ▪ Alternatives: wA1,wA2,wA3… wAn
Expected Return 𝑟𝑓 𝐸(𝑟𝑝 )
Risk 𝜎𝑟𝑓 = 0 𝜎𝑝
Weighting (1 − 𝑦) 𝑦
Combination Complete Portfolio C
Comb. Expected Return 𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 1 − 𝑦 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦[𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) – 𝑟𝑓 ]
Comb. Risk 𝜎𝐶 = 𝑦𝜎𝑝 8
Complete Portfolio Expected Return
❑ What we are trying to derive is the appropriate weighting between the risky assets portfolio 𝑃
and the risk-free asset(s) 𝐹 in our Complete Portfolio 𝐶
❑ As usual, to determine weightings, we must first derive the expected return and risk of 𝐶
❑ The return on our complete portfolio 𝐶 is:
𝑟𝐶 = 1 − 𝑦 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦𝑟𝑝
❑ So, the expected return on the Complete Portfolio 𝐶 is given by:
𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 1 − 𝑦 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦𝐸(𝑟𝑝 )
❑ As we saw previously, portfolio expected return is simply a weighted average of the
component asset expected returns
➢ It is useful to express this equation as a risk premium. Rearranging we have:
𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦[𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) – 𝑟𝑓 ]
[𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) – 𝑟𝑓 ] is often referred to as the risk premium
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Complete Portfolio Risk
❑ What about risk? We know that portfolio risk for a 2-asset portfolio (𝑃 and 𝐹) is given by:
𝜎𝐶2 = 𝑦 2 𝜎𝑃2 + (1 − 𝑦)2 𝜎𝑟2𝑓 + 2𝑦 1 − 𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑣 𝑟𝑝 , 𝑟𝑓
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Graphical Representation
❑ Lets look at this equation carefully:
𝜎𝐶
𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + [𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) – 𝑟𝑓 ]
𝜎𝑃
𝐸 𝑟𝑝 − 𝑟𝑓
Slope =
𝜎𝑝
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Capital Allocation Line
❑ The higher is 𝑦, the more we allocate to risky assets, and therefore the higher the return and
the risk of the combined portfolio
❑ If 𝑦 > 1, it means borrowing at 𝑟𝑓 (instead of investing in the risk-free asset at 𝑟𝑓 ) and investing
the proceeds into risky assets i.e. taking a levered position in risky assets
❑ We can label the line that links with risky portfolio 𝑃 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃 – the Capital Allocation Line for 𝑃
E(r)
𝑟𝑓 is the
𝑦-intercept as C(y=0.75) 𝑦=1
CALP
C(y=0.25)
𝜎=0
P
rf C(y=1.25)
C(y=0.5)
σ
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Example: Risky and Risk-Free Assets
❑ Example 3A1: Low Risk Fund has identified an efficient portfolio 𝑃 of risky assets on the
efficient frontier with an expected return 𝐸(𝑟𝑃 ) = 9.21% and risk of 𝜎𝑃 = 16.92%
a) What is the Sharpe ratio of 𝑃?
b) If the fund prefers a lower risk level, how would it efficiently combine risky portfolio 𝑃 and
the risk-free asset (𝑟𝑓 = 2.0%) to create a complete portfolio 𝐶 with risk level of 𝜎𝐶 = 12%?
c) What is the expected return 𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) and Sharpe ratio of this complete portfolio 𝐶?
➢ Sharpe ratio of 𝑃 = (.0921-.02)/.1692 = .426
𝜎𝐶
➢ Share in P at preferred risk level of 12%: 𝑦 = = .12 / .1692 = 70.9%
𝜎𝑃
𝜎𝐶
➢ Expected return of complete portfolio 𝐶: 𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + [𝐸(𝑟𝑝 ) – 𝑟𝑓 ]
𝜎𝑃
= .02 + .709 (.0921 -.02) = 7.11%
➢ Sharpe ratio of 𝐶 = (.0711 - .02) / .12 = .426
➢ By putting 70.9% of its capital in the risky asset portfolio 𝑃 and 29.1% in the risk-free asset,
the fund can create an efficient portfolio (same Sharpe Ratio as 𝑃) with 𝜎𝐶 = 12%
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Example: Risky and Risk-Free Assets
The Capital Allocation Line
14.0%
At 𝑪: 𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 7.11% When linked to an
and 𝜎𝐶 = 12.0% 12.0%
optimal risky portfolio, the
2.0%
𝑟𝑓 = 2.0% At 𝑷: 𝐸(𝑟𝑃) = 9.21%
0.0%
and 𝜎𝑝 = 16.92%
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
σ𝐶
𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + (𝐸(𝑟𝑝) − 𝑟𝑓 ) = .02 + .426 𝜎𝐶
σ𝑃
➢ This equation describes the Capital Allocation line. The 𝑦-intercept is 𝑟𝑓 = 2% and the
slope is the Sharpe ratio
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3.2 Deriving Optimal
Portfolio Weights
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∗
Optimal Risky Portfolio 𝑷
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Why Add the Risk-free Asset?
❑ Efficient risky portfolios, 𝑃1 and 𝑃3 , are dominated by complete portfolios of the risk-free asset
and the (inefficient) risky portfolio, 𝑃𝐼 (portfolios 𝐶1 and 𝐶3 )
❑ Hence, combinations of risky portfolios with risk-free assets can dominate the efficient frontier
➢ The risk-free asset has significantly increased our investment opportunities
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Which Risky Portfolio is Optimal?
❑ So, which efficient portfolio is optimal?
➢ Which portfolio combination should we choose?
CALPE
PE
E(r)
CPE CALPI
PI
CPI
rf
σ
❑ Clearly it is not optimal to combine the risk-free asset with an interior (inefficient) risky
portfolio, 𝑃𝐼
❑ But 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃𝐸 and portfolios 𝐶𝑃𝐸 and 𝑃𝐸 are also not optimal. Why?
❑ What CAL would be optimal?
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Which Risky Portfolio is Optimal?
Note these principles:
❑ Remember, the slope of the CAL is the Sharpe ratio of the efficient risky portfolio it links to
➢ As we want to maximise the Sharpe ratio, we want to maximize the slope of the CAL for any
possible efficient portfolio, 𝑃
➢ The steeper the slope of the CAL to an efficient risky portfolio 𝑃, the better the risky portfolio
❑ The steepest sloping CAL maximises return at each level of risk (or minimises risk at each
level of return). In other words it maximises the Sharpe ratio
❑ Therefore we want to invest along the CAL where:
1. The complete portfolios along the CAL dominate all other portfolios - the steepest possible
CAL
2. The investment opportunity is attainable
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The Optimal Risky Portfolio 𝑷∗
❑ The optimal CAL is the one which is tangent to the efficient frontier 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑷∗
❑ The point of tangency 𝑷∗ is called the Optimal Risky Portfolio
❑ The line 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃∗ is often simply denoted CAL - the Capital Allocation Line
σ
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Summary Principles to Identify 𝑷∗
❑ Only risky portfolios on the efficient frontier should be considered
➢ The CAL links the risk-free asset to a portfolio on the efficient frontier
❑ The steeper the CAL the better eg 𝐶𝐴𝐿2 clearly dominates 𝐶𝐴𝐿1
❑ The point of tangency with the efficient frontier from 𝑟𝑓 provides the steepest possible CAL
and identifies the Optimal Risky Portfolio 𝑃∗
❑ Any portfolio beyond the efficient frontier is not attainable
CALP* = CAL
CAL2
E(r)
P*
Any CAL above
𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃∗ is not attainable CAL1
rf
σ 22
Two Asset Optimal Risky Portfolio (𝑷∗ )
❑ Note the optimal risky portfolio 𝑃∗ is different from the GMVP
➢ The GMVP is the portfolio combination which minimises risk (regardless of return)
➢ The optimal risky portfolio 𝑃∗ is the portfolio combination which maximises the Sharpe ratio
❑ For a portfolio with just 2 risky assets (or asset classes), the optimal risky portfolio weights
are given by:
𝐸(𝑟1)𝜎22 − 𝐸(𝑟2 )𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑟1 ,𝑟2 )
𝑤1 = 𝐸(𝑟1 )𝜎22 + 𝐸(𝑟2 )𝜎12 − [𝐸 𝑟1 +𝐸 𝑟2 ]𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑟1,𝑟2 )
𝑤2 = 1 − 𝑤1
❑ For more than 2 assets this optimisation gets tricky – we often use Excel Solver
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∗
Optimal Complete Portfolio 𝑪
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The Optimal Allocation Along the CAL
❑ The remaining question is, where along the Capital Allocation Line should we invest?
➢ More risk averse investors would invest less in 𝑃 ∗
• That is, invest more in risk-free assets and invest less (𝑦 ∗ <100%) in risky assets 𝑃 ∗
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Optimal Allocation to Risky Assets 𝒚∗
❑ An investor chooses 𝑦 ∗ based on their individual risk preferences:
➢ The risk aversion coefficient 𝐴 is different for different investors
➢ Therefore, different investors have different utility functions and different indifference curves:
Unattainable
𝑪∗ is the Optimal Complete indifference curve
Portfolio – tangent between the ❑ These are different
CAL and the highest attainable indifference curves for
indifference curve
one individual. 𝑪∗ is
E(r) specific to this one
P* investor based on their
indifference curves
C* (and therefore their
risk aversion)
rf
𝑪∗ is determined at the
optimal risky share 𝑦 ∗
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Deriving the Optimal Risky Allocation 𝒚∗
❑ We can derive the optimal allocation to risky assets 𝑦 ∗ mathematically:
❑ Recall we derived the return and risk on a Complete Portfolio 𝐶
Expected Return: 𝐸(𝑟𝐶 ) = 𝑟𝑓 + 𝑦[𝐸(𝑟𝑝∗ ) – 𝑟𝑓 ]
Risk: 𝜎𝐶 = 𝑦𝜎𝑃∗ or re-stated as variance: 𝜎𝐶2 = 𝑦2𝜎𝑝∗
2
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The CAL is Common to All Investors
❑ 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃∗ (or simply the CAL) caters to all risk tolerances and provides the highest possible
return for each level of risk
❑ Therefore, regardless of an individual investors’ level of risk aversion – defined by their risk
aversion coefficient 𝐴 - EVERY rational investor will invest along 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃∗
➢ Because for EVERY level of risk aversion, 𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑃∗ gives the highest return
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Separation Theorem
❑ The Separation Theorem states portfolio optimisation may be separated into two independent
steps:
1. Determine the CAL and optimal risky portfolio, 𝑃∗ (common to all investors)
2. Determine the share of wealth which will be invested in 𝑃∗ (the optimal allocation to risky
assets 𝑦 ∗ ) based on individual risk aversion (specific to the individual investor). This
step defines the investor’s Optimal Complete Portfolio 𝐶 ∗
❑ Separation theorem
CA* is the Optimal
Complete Portfolio ➢ Investors with different risk aversion
for investor A C B *
(𝐴) have different 𝐶 ∗
E(r)
P* ➢ Investor A has steeper indifference
curves and is more risk averse than B
CA* (higher risk aversion coefficient 𝐴)
CB* is the Optimal
rf Complete Portfolio ➢ But they invest in the same 𝑷∗
for investor B
➢ They only differ in terms of their
allocation (𝒚∗ ) to 𝑷∗ 31
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Summary of the Markowitz Optimisation Model
❑ Lets summarise the Markowitz Portfolio Optimisation model in 3 important steps:
1. Identify the optimal risk-return combinations from all risky assets to form the minimum
variance frontier. Discard all portfolios below the GMVP, thereby identifying the efficient
frontier
2. Derive the CAL by linking the risk-free asset with the portfolio on the efficient frontier with the
highest Sharpe ratio – which is the point of tangency with the efficient frontier. This portfolio
is known as the Optimal Risky Portfolio 𝑷∗
3. All rational investors invest in 𝑃∗ , regardless of their risk aversion. Individually, investors
decide where they sit along the CAL by determining their optimal risky allocation (𝒚∗ ) to 𝑃∗
➢ More risk averse investors put more in the risk-free asset
➢ Less risk averse investors put more in P*
➢ This last step identifies the investors’ Optimal Complete Portfolio 𝑪∗
Video 3AV4: ““In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio: Harry M. Markowitz”
Further Reading 3AR1: “Markowitz Mellon Survey on MPT” 32
Excel 3AE1: “3A - Deriving the Optimal Complete Portfolio - 2 Assets”
(lowest risk)
Efficient Frontier
(All efficient portfolios at each return)
GMVP
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Borrowing Constraints
❑ The optimal allocation to risky assets 𝑦 ∗ can be > 1 for (less risk averse) investors
❑ This means the investor takes a levered position in 𝑃∗ - that is, borrowing to invest
➢ Points on the CAL to the left of 𝑃 ∗ represent lending (investing) at the risk-free rate 𝑟𝑓 and
points to the right represent borrowing at 𝑟𝑓
❑ In reality, although we can invest at 𝑟𝑓 (by buying government bonds) we generally can’t
borrow at 𝑟𝑓
➢ Only AAA Governments borrow at 𝑟𝑓 , others borrow at a higher rate reflecting their higher
risk
❑ Let’s assume that we are able to borrow at some higher interest rate 𝑟𝑏 and that 𝑟𝑏 > 𝑟𝑓
➢ In this case, for those (less risk averse) investors who would like to borrow to invest, the
section of CAL above 𝑃∗ is not obtainable, as those levered positions are based on 𝑟𝑓
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Borrowing Constraints
❑ A new optimal risky portfolio (𝑃𝑏∗ ) and associated CAL is derived for the borrowing rate 𝑟𝑏
❑ Only the section of CAL above 𝑃𝑏∗ is relevant, as this is the CAL for borrowing (taking a
levered position in the optimal risky portfolio 𝑃𝑏∗ )
❑ Graphically the CAL has a kink where 𝑦 = 1 (at 𝑃∗ ) – the slope (Sharpe ratio) changes at 𝑃∗
❑ Unless explicitly asked, we assume no borrowing constraints
Lending at rf Borrowing at rb
E(r)
P* Pb* Sharpe ratio changes at 𝑃∗ .
The borrowing CAL has a
rb lower Sharpe ratio than the
investing CAL. This results
in a kink in the CAL
rf
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σ
Next Lecture
❑ BKM Chapter 9
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