Volatility Ratio

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Definition of 'Volatility Ratio'

The volatility ratio is a measure of the price variability of a security or portfolio in comparison to the market as a whole. It is calculated by dividing the standard deviation of the security's returns by the standard deviation of the market's returns. A higher volatility ratio indicates that the security is more volatile than the market, while a lower volatility ratio indicates that the security is less volatile than the market.

The volatility ratio can be used to compare the risk of different investments. For example, a stock with a high volatility ratio would be considered to be riskier than a stock with a low volatility ratio. The volatility ratio can also be used to identify potential trading opportunities. For example, a stock with a high volatility ratio may be a good candidate for a short sale, while a stock with a low volatility ratio may be a good candidate for a long position.

The volatility ratio is a useful tool for investors and traders, but it should be used in conjunction with other risk measures to get a complete picture of an investment's risk.

Here are some additional points to consider about the volatility ratio:

* The volatility ratio is not affected by the direction of the security's returns. A security with a high volatility ratio could have positive or negative returns, and a security with a low volatility ratio could also have positive or negative returns.
* The volatility ratio is a historical measure of risk. It does not predict future volatility.
* The volatility ratio can be calculated for different time periods. The most common time period is one year, but the volatility ratio can also be calculated for shorter or longer time periods.
* The volatility ratio can be calculated for individual securities, portfolios, or indexes.

The volatility ratio is a valuable tool for investors and traders, but it should be used in conjunction with other risk measures to get a complete picture of an investment's risk.

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