What is Systematic Risk?
Systematic risk can be referred to as the inherent risk that has a major impact on the entire financial economy and market. It does not target a specific company or industry. It is unpredictable and cannot be avoided through diversification.
The reason for this is quite simple. Systematic risks arise from a wide range of external factors like inflation, economic downturns, geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, etc. Hence, investors cannot escape this entirely. For example, during a global recession or financial breakdown, the whole of the stock market may decline, irrespective of how well individual companies may perform. Furthermore, systematic risks impact all asset classes, i.e., bonds, stocks, real estate, commodities, etc. This is another reason why investors cannot potentially avoid it.
However, you can reduce its impact. Usually, this type of risk is measured using beta. It indicates how sensitive an asset is when it comes to overall market movements. A higher beta indicates that an asset is more volatile in response to market shifts. Investors and fund managers should account for systematic risk while building portfolios because it influences the returns as well (across all investments).
Types of Systematic Risk
Now that you know what is systematic risk, let's talk about the types. Systematic risk can be categorised into several types (depending on what affects the entire market). Some of these include:
- Market Risk
Market risk is all about the fluctuations in the prices of assets due to investor sentiment, economic conditions, and global events. Several factors, like interest rate hikes, stock market crashes, or geopolitical events, can cause major and widespread volatility. For example, the 2008 financial crisis caused a major global market downturn, which affected all industries and asset classes. (more on this below) - Inflation Risk
Inflation wipes off the purchasing power, thereby reducing the real value of investments over time. If inflation rises beyond expectations, it can hurt fixed-income savings, securities, and long-term investments. This makes it harder for investors to maintain their wealth. - Interest Rate Risk
This risk arises due to the fluctuations in the interest rates. This can directly impact fixed-income investments like bonds. When interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and vice versa. It also affects borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, thereby influencing the overall economic growth. - Currency Risk (Exchange Rate Risk)
For investors who deal in foreign assets, currency fluctuations can significantly impact the overall returns. In case the local currency weakens against the foreign currencies, imports become expensive and inflation may rise. This risk is particularly relevant for companies that are engaged in international trade along with global investors. - Political and Regulatory Risk
Government policies, regulatory changes, and political instability can end up affecting the entire market. Policy shifts like trade restrictions, new financial regulations, or tax changes can also influence investment returns. For example, stricter environmental laws can impact industries like energy and manufacturing.
Causes of Systematic Risk
Systematic risk arises from factors that affect the entire financial market, not just individual companies. For example, economic downturns and recessions lead to lower consumer spending and reduced corporate earnings. This impacts every asset virtually. Changes in the monetary policy, like interest rate hikes or cuts by central banks change the borrowing costs and investment decisions on quite a wide scale.
Additionally, political uncertainty and regulatory changes also contribute significantly. Abrupt and sudden shifts in trade disputes, government policies, or geopolitical tensions can shake investor confidence and create a market-wide volatility. Global events like pandemics, conflicts, natural disasters, disrupted supply chains and economic activity further influences market behavior.
Consequently, another major factor is the interconnectedness of modern economies. If seen closely, a slowdown in one major economy can trigger a chain reaction. This can affect the market worldwide due to the increased reliance on investment and global trade. Currency fluctuations also play a major role. When a currency loses its value, it can influence the export and import, eventually affecting the pricing of commodities.
In a nutshell, since systematic risk comes from external forces that cannot be controlled, planning on solid risk management strategies are extremely important for investors.
Measuring Systematic Risk
Systematic risk is commonly measured using beta, a metric that indicates how much an asset or portfolio moves in relation to the overall market.
- A beta of 1 suggests that the asset is moving in sync with the market.
- A beta greater than 1 indicates higher risk as well as volatility.
- On the other hand, a beta less than 1 indicates that the asset is less volatile than the market.
Another key measure involves R-squared value. This helps in determining how much of an asset's movements can be explained by market fluctuations. Investors and analysts also rely on CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model) to evaluate the expected returns based on an asset's systematic risk.
Strategies to Mitigate Systematic Risk
Some of the strategies to mitigate systematic risk invokes:
- Sector Diversification: Start allocating funds across multiple industries. By doing this, you can avoid heavy losses from sector-specific (healthcare, tech, or energy) declines.
- Asset Allocation: Spread out the investments across different asset classes. This involves bonds, equities, and commodities. It will reduce exposure to a single market downturn.
- Hedging with Derivatives: Use futures and options and swaps to offset the potential of losses during market downturns.
- Maintain Liquidity: Keep a solid portion of the portfolio in liquid or cash assets to move through market volatility and grab new opportunities.
- Try Long-Term Investing Approach: Stay invested via market cycles instead of reacting to short-term fluctuations. This will reduce the overall impact of temporary downturns.
- Consider Geographical Diversification: Start investing in global markets. This will minimise the impact of region-specific economic downturns or any policy changes.
- Invest in Defensive Stocks: Choose stocks from sectors like utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples. These generally tend to be stable during potential economic downturns.
- Rebalance Your Portfolio Regularly: Adjust your asset allocation periodically. This will help you align with the changing market conditions and risk tolerance.
- Use Safe Assets: Begin with allocating funds to gold, government bonds, or inflation-protected securities during times of economic uncertainty.
Systematic Risk vs. Unsystematic Risk: Key Differences
Systematic risk is unavoidable as it impacts the entire financial system. However, unsystematic risk is controllable via proper diversification. Usually, a well-balanced investment strategy considers both types of risks to minimise the losses and balance the returns. Here's a tabular distinction:
Factor
| Systematic Risk
| Unsystematic Risk
|
Causes
| Macroeconomic factors like interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events
| Internal factors like product failures, labor strikes, and management issues
|
Also Known as
| Non-diversifiable risk or market risk
| Diversifiable risk or specific risk
|
Diversification Impact
| Cannot be mitigated through diversification
| Can be minimised by holding a diversified portfolio
|
Examples
| COVID-19 pandemic, 2008 financial crisis, recession, interest rate hikes
| Product recall, company bankruptcy, and industry-specific regulations
|
Mitigation Measures
| Asset allocation, hedging, and investing in defensive sectors
| Diversification across industries and companies
|
Real-world Examples of Systematic Risk
Some of the real world examples of systematic risk include:
- 2008 Global Financial Crisis
Also known as the Great Recession, the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a worldwide financial breakdown. It led to economic downturns, market crashes, and high unemployment rates. This was a systematic failure that affected all investors and industries globally. - COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
COVID is yet another example of an external risk that affected the whole world’s financial ecosystem. This unanticipated outbreak that led to lockdowns across the globe affected businesses, big and small. - Demonetisation in India (2016)
When the Indian government invalidated ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes in the year 2016, cash shortage, disruption in business and slow financial growth were instantly visible effects. This was one decision that had a rippling effect all across the industries and thus impacted millions. - Global Recession (2000, 2008, 2020)
The turn of the century brought several economic downturns. Loss of jobs, market crashes and businesses shutting down were some hard-hitting examples of systematic risk that affected even the strongest of economies. - Interest Rate Hikes by Central Banks
When central banks like the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) or the Federal Reserve raise or increase interest rates, the borrowing cost also rises. This starts affecting businesses, investors, and consumers. Eventually, stock markets decline, and economic growth slows. - Geopolitical Conflicts
Systematic risks can also arise in the events of political instability. In the past few months, the world has witnessed wars that have further disrupted markets and supply chains. Such unpredictable events greatly impact the movements in the market and become an important example of systematic risk.