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Functions Of An Efficient Portfolio

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A. Portfolio; feasible set; efficient portfolio; efficient frontier
A portfolio is a group of financial assets, differing in possible risk and return, and is managed by an investor or a group of professionals. Generally, a higher return expected by a portfolio owner generates a higher risk as well, and vice versa. The mix of financial assets can range, and these can include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cash equivalents. Stocks are considered the most volatile of these options and thus generate the highest return/highest risk, with bonds being one of the safer options, which only generate a low return/low risk.
A feasible set of portfolios refers to the possible combinations of financial assets that an investor can have, according to …show more content…

In contrast to portfolios with less diversification, which tend to be sub-optimal and below the curve, the efficient frontier curve outlines diversified portfolios that are optimal. This is depicted by the graph attached.
{See Graph 1}
As outlined in the example diagram provided by YoungResearch, the efficient frontier adequately demonstrates the impact of diversification, showing how it is a factor in determining the curve 's optimal portfolios, determined by the amounts of risk (measured by standard deviation of annual returns) and return (average of annual returns). For example, a portfolio with only 100% stocks would generate a large return of 12.5%, though also a large risk of 17%. This is the opposite to a portfolio of 100% bonds, where the return would be smaller at 9%, though with significantly less risk at approximately 9%. Consider the bundle with 10% risk and 10.75% return, which is the one composed of 50% stocks and 50% bonds. This may be viewed as a more favorable option for the investor, as return is higher than a portfolio with only bonds, though with less risk, compared to a portfolio with only stocks.
{See Graph 2}
B. Indifference curve; optimal portfolio
Indifference curves represent the utility the consumer would obtain as a function of certain variables. In portfolio theory, this would mean utility as a function of both expected returns and standard

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