Risk Mgmt - Reading 39 EOCQ opposite, reading, however, return

jmh530

Hi all
Under reading 39, Question 23. I thought the answer is C, however it turns out to be B.
If VAR = [Rp - (z)(Standard Deviation)]Value
Then wouldn’t:
increasing return = increasing VAR, and
increasing st.dev = decreasing VAR
???
The book says it is the opposite, clearly i am missing somthing. Please help me out!

ajpheif16

OK thanks for your help guys

Elliotbay

^ this is a good example. i think what tripped you up was the fact that the # winds up to be negative. if they were positive #’s then the formula would be a head scratcher, but they’re negative… book is right, l3aspirant is right.

grharmeyer

var is a measure of loss. assuming all calculated at 5% Var
if return = 10%, std dev = 15%, Var = -14.74
if return = 20%, std dev = 15%, Var = -4.74 (little loss)
hence, if return increases all else equal, var decreases
if return = 10%, std dev = 15%, Var = -14.74
if return = 10%, std dev = 20%, Var = -23 (more loss)
therefore, if std dev increases, var increases