Arbitrage Pricing Theory - APT

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Arbitrage Pricing Theory - APT'

An asset pricing model based on the idea that an asset's returns can be predicted using the relationship between that same asset and many common risk factors. Created in 1976 by Stephen Ross, this theory predicts a relationship between the returns of a portfolio and the returns of a single asset through a linear combination of many independent macro-economic variables.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Arbitrage Pricing Theory - APT'

The arbitrage pricing theory (APT) describes the price where a mispriced asset is expected to be. It is often viewed as an alternative to the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), since the APT has more flexible assumption requirements. Whereas the CAPM formula requires the market's expected return, APT uses the risky asset's expected return and the risk premium of a number of macro-economic factors. Arbitrageurs use the APT model to profit by taking advantage of mispriced securities. A mispriced security will have a price that differs from the theoretical price predicted by the model. By going short an over priced security, while concurrently going long the portfolio the APT calculations were based on, the arbitrageur is in a position to make a theoretically risk-free profit.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Catch On To The CCAPM

    The consumption capital asset pricing model smoothes over some of CAPM's weaknesses to make sense of risk aversion.
  2. Calculating The Equity Risk Premium

    See the model in action with real data and evaluate whether its assumptions are valid.
  3. The Equity-Risk Premium: More Risk For Higher Returns

    Learn how the expected extra return on stocks is measured and why academic studies usually estimate a low premium.
  4. Financial Concepts

    Diversification? Optimal portfolio theory? Read this tutorial and these and other financial concepts will be made clear.
  5. Weighted Average Cost Of Capital (WACC)

    Weighted average cost of capital may be hard to calculate, but it's a solid way to measure investment quality
  6. Exploring The Current Account In The Balance Of Payments

    Learn how a country's current account balance reflects the country's economic health.
  7. Taking Shots At CAPM

    Find out why many investors think the capital asset pricing model is full of holes.
  8. George Soros: The Philosophy Of An Elite Investor

    George Soros spent decades as one of the world's elite investors, and even he didn't always come out on top. But when he did, it was spectacular.
  9. Understanding And Playing The Dow Jones Industrial Average

    Learn strategies for investing in this price-weighted index and how to interpret its movements.
  10. Introduction To International CAPM

    ICAPM is one of several models used to determine the required return on an asset, discover its limitations and how to use it.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Yield Elbow

    The point on the yield curve indicating the year in which the economy's highest interest rates occur. The yield elbow is the peak of the yield curve, signifying where the highest interest rates occurred.
  2. Xenocurrency

    A currency that trades in markets outside of its domestic borders.
  3. Wanton Disregard

    A standard of severe negligence. Wanton disregard is a very serious accusation that indicates that a person behaved extremely recklessly.
  4. Ultra ETF

    A class of exchange-traded funds (ETF) that employs leverage in an effort to achieve double the return of a set benchmark.
  5. Toehold Purchase

    A purchase of less than 5% of a target company's outstanding stockmade by an acquiring company. A toehold purchase of just under 5%, while not a significant stake in a firm, allows the shareholders a "toe-holds" grip on the company and its decision making.
  6. Samurai Bond

    A yen-denominated bond issued in Tokyo by a non-Japanese company and subject to Japanese regulations.
Trading Center
http://sp.fastclick.net/ad/tr/10858-64082-15546-0?mpt=a56d2b63c7a6a9bfcc31357b9275eaeb