Portfolio Expected Return and Variance Calculation | CFA® Level 1 Exam Preparation

Expected Return and Variance Calculation for Portfolio | CFA® Level 1 Exam

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Question

You have a portfolio of two assets, X and Y. X has an expected return of 15% with a variance of 900%%, and Y has an expected return of 9% with a variance of

400%%. Assume the covariance between X and Y is 225%%. For a portfolio composed of 50% X and 50% Y, find the expected return and variance.

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A. B. C. D.

B

The expected return is 0.5*15% + 0.5*9% = 7.5% + 4.5% = 12%. The variance will be trickier. The variance will be equal to (w_X)^2 * (sigma_X)^2 + (w_Y)^2 *

(sigma_Y)^2 + 2 * w_X * w_Y * cov(X,Y) = (0.5)^2 * 900%% + (0.5)^2 * 400%% + 2 * (0.5) * (0.5) * 225%% = 437.5%%.