FINANCE

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KembaraXtra-Islamic Finance-Islamic Capital Market
Systematic Risk


Meaning of Systematic Risk
Systematic risk refers to risk that affects the entire financial market or a large segment of it. This type of risk is unpredictable and cannot be eliminated through diversification because it impacts all securities simultaneously, regardless of the industry or company.


Why It Is Undiversifiable
Unlike firm-specific risk, systematic risk cannot be reduced by holding a diversified portfolio. Even if an investor holds many different stocks, bonds, or other assets, systematic risk still remains because it arises from macroeconomic or global factors.


Common Sources of Systematic Risk
Systematic risk can arise from political instability, economic recessions, inflation, interest rate changes, wars, pandemics, or major regulatory changes. These events influence multiple financial markets at the same time, including equity markets, bond markets, and currency markets.


Example of Systematic Risk
Political upheaval is a clear example of systematic risk. A sudden political crisis can cause stock markets to fall, bond yields to fluctuate, and currency values to weaken all at once. In such a scenario, investors across different asset classes are affected simultaneously.


Risk Mitigation Through Hedging
Although systematic risk cannot be diversified away, it can be partially mitigated through hedging. Investors may use financial instruments such as put options to protect their portfolios. A put option allows an investor to sell a security at a predetermined price, helping limit losses during market-wide downturns.


Key Point to Remember
Systematic risk affects the whole market, cannot be avoided through diversification, but can be managed to some extent using hedging strategies.


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