CFA Level 1 Portfolio Management Equations | Covariance and Correlation Coefficients

Covariance for Portfolio J and Correlation Coefficients for Portfolios K and L.

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Question

Gregg Goebel and Mason Erikson are studying for the Level 1 CFA examination. They have just started the section on Portfolio Management and Erikson is having difficulty with the equations for the covariance (cov1,2) and the correlation coefficient (r1,2) for two-stock portfolios. Goebel is confident with the material and creates the following quiz for Erikson. Using the information in the table below, he asks Erickson to fill in the question marks.

Which of the following choices correctly gives the covariance for Portfolio J and the correlation coefficients for Portfolios K and L, respectively?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

B

The calculations are as follows:

Portfolio J covariance= cov1,2= (r1,2) * ( 1) * ( 2) = 0.75 * 0.08 * 0.18 = 0.0108, or 0.011.

Portfolio K correlation coefficient= (r1,2) = cov1,2/ [ ( 1) * ( 2) ] = 0.02 / (0.20 * 0.12) = 0.833

Portfolio L correlation coefficient= (r1,2) = cov1,2/ [ ( 1) * ( 2)1/2] = 0.003 / (0.18 * 0.091/2) = 0.003 / (0.18 * 0.30) = 0.056Remember:The standard deviation is the square root of the variance. Read carefully on the exam!