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Types of Risk - Systematic and Unsystematic Risk in Finance Post: Gaurav Akrani. Date: 1/25/2012. Comments (3). Label: Finance.
Types of risk
First let's revise the simple meaning of two words, viz., types and risk. In general and in context of this finance article,
- Types mean different classes or various forms / kinds of something or someone.
- Risk implies the extent to which any chosen action or an inaction that may lead to a loss or some unwanted outcome. The notion implies that a choice may have an influence on the outcome that exists or has existed.
However, in financial management, risk relates to any material loss attached to the project that may affect the productivity, tenure, legal issues, etc. of the project.
In finance, different types of risk can be classified under two main groups, viz.,
The meaning of systematic and unsystematic risk in finance:
- Systematic risk is uncontrollable by an organization and macro in nature.
- Unsystematic risk is controllable by an organization and micro in nature.
A. Systematic Risk
Systematic risk is due to the influence of external factors on an organization. Such factors are normally uncontrollable from an organization's point of view. It is a macro in nature as it affects a large number of organizations operating under a similar stream or same domain. It cannot be planned by the organization.
The types of systematic risk are depicted and listed below.
1. Interest rate risk
Interest-rate risk arises due to variability in the interest rates from time to time. It particularly affects debt securities as they carry the fixed rate of interest.
The types of interest-rate risk are depicted and listed below.
The meaning of price and reinvestment rate risk is as follows:
- Price risk arises due to the possibility that the price of the shares, commodity, investment, etc. may decline or fall in the future.
- Reinvestment rate risk results from fact that the interest or dividend earned from an investment can't be reinvested with the same rate of return as it was acquiring earlier. 2. Market risk
Market risk is associated with consistent fluctuations seen in the trading price of any particular shares or securities. That is, it arises due to rise or fall in the trading price of listed shares or securities in the stock market.
The types of market risk are depicted and listed below.
The meaning of different types of market risk is as follows:
- Absolute risk is without any content. For e.g., if a coin is tossed, there is fifty percentage chance of getting a head and vice-versa.
- Relative risk is the assessment or evaluation of risk at different levels of business functions. For e.g. a relative-risk from a foreign exchange fluctuation may be higher if the maximum sales accounted by an organization are of export sales.
1. Business or liquidity risk
Business risk is also known as liquidity risk. It is so, since it emanates (originates) from the sale and purchase of securities affected by business cycles, technological changes, etc.
The types of business or liquidity risk are depicted and listed below.
The meaning of asset and funding liquidity risk is as follows:
- Asset liquidity risk is due to losses arising from an inability to sell or pledge assets at, or near, their carrying value when needed. For e.g. assets sold at a lesser value than their book value.
- Funding liquidity risk exists for not having an access to the sufficient-funds to make a payment on time. For e.g. when commitments made to customers are not fulfilled as discussed in the SLA (service level agreements). 2. Financial or credit risk
Financial risk is also known as credit risk. It arises due to change in the capital structure of the organization. The capital structure mainly comprises of three ways by which funds are sourced for the projects. These are as follows:
- Owned funds. For e.g. share capital.
- Borrowed funds. For e.g. loan funds.
- Retained earnings. For e.g. reserve and surplus.
The types of financial or credit risk are depicted and listed below.
The meaning of types of financial or credit risk is as follows:
- Exchange rate risk is also called as exposure rate risk. It is a form of financial risk that arises from a potential change seen in the exchange rate of one country's currency in relation to another country's currency and vice-versa. For e.g. investors or businesses face it either when they have assets or operations across national borders, or if they have loans or borrowings in a foreign currency.
- Recovery rate risk is an often neglected aspect of a credit-risk analysis. The recovery rate is normally needed to be evaluated. For e.g. the expected recovery rate of the funds tendered (given) as a loan to the customers by banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFC), etc.
- Sovereign risk is associated with the government. Here, a government is unable to meet its loan obligations, reneging (to break a promise) on loans it guarantees, etc.
- Settlement risk exists when counterparty does not deliver a security or its value in cash as per the agreement of trade or business. 3. Operational risk
Operational risks are the business process risks failing due to human errors. This risk will change from industry to industry. It occurs due to breakdowns in the internal procedures, people, policies and systems.
The types of operational risk are depicted and listed below.
The meaning of types of operational risk is as follows:
- Model risk is involved in using various models to value financial securities. It is due to probability of loss resulting from the weaknesses in the financial-model used in assessing and managing a risk.
- People risk arises when people do not follow the organization’s procedures, practices and/or rules. That is, they deviate from their expected behavior.
- Legal risk arises when parties are not lawfully competent to enter an agreement among themselves. Furthermore, this relates to the regulatory-risk, where a transaction could
