Diversification is a risk management strategy that mixes a wide variety of investments within a portfolio. A diversified portfolio contains a mix of distinct asset types and investment vehicles in an attempt at limiting exposure to any single asset or risk. The rationale behind this technique is that a portfolio constructed of different kinds of assets will, on average, yield higher long-term returns and lower the risk of any individual holding or security. Diversification strives to smooth out continue reading risk events in a portfolio, An Explanation Of The Bushs Foreign Trade the positive performance of some investments neutralizes the negative performance of others. The benefits of diversification hold only if the securities in the portfolio are not perfectly correlated —that is, they respond differently, often in opposing ways, to market influences.
Studies and mathematical models have shown that maintaining a well-diversified portfolio of 25 to 30 stocks yields the most cost-effective level of risk reduction. Classes can include:. They will then diversify among investments within the assets classes, such as by selecting stocks from various sectors that tend to have low return correlation, or by choosing stocks with different market capitalizations. In the case of bonds, investors can select from investment-grade corporate bonds, U. Treasuries, state and municipal bonds, high-yield bonds and others.
Investors can reap further diversification benefits by investing in foreign securities because they tend to be less closely correlated with domestic ones.
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For example, forces depressing the U. Therefore, holding Japanese stocks gives an investor a small cushion of protection against losses during an American economic downturn. Time and budget constraints can make it difficult for noninstitutional investors—i. This challenge is a key reason why mutual funds are so popular with retail investors.
Buying shares in a mutual fund offers an inexpensive way to diversify investments. While mutual funds provide diversification across various asset classes, exchange-traded funds ETFs afford investor access to narrow markets such as commodities and international plays that would ordinarily be difficult to access. Reduced risk, a volatility buffer: The pluses of diversification are many. However, there are drawbacks, too. The more holdings a portfolio has, the more time-consuming it can be to manage—and the more expensive, since buying and selling many different holdings incurs more transaction fees and brokerage commissions. More fundamentally, diversification's spreading-out strategy works both ways, lessening both the risk and the reward. By protecting you on the downside, diversification limits you on the upside—at least, in the short term. Over the long term, diversified portfolios do tend to post higher returns see example below.
Smart beta strategies offer diversification An Explanation Of The Bushs Foreign Trade tracking underlying indices but do not necessarily weigh stocks according to their market cap. ETF managers further screen equity issues on fundamentals and rebalance portfolios according to objective analysis and not just company size. While smart beta portfolios are unmanaged, the primary goal becomes outperformance of the index itself. Say an aggressive investor who can assume a higher level of risk, wishes to construct a portfolio composed of Japanese equities, Australian bonds, and cotton futures. With this mix of ETF shares, due to the specific qualities of the targeted asset classes and the transparency of the holdings, the investor ensures true An Explanation Of The Bushs Foreign Trade in their holdings.
Also, with different correlations, or responses to outside forces, among the securities, they can slightly lessen their risk exposure.
For related reading, see " The Importance Of Diversification ". Portfolio Management.
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