Investopedia

Continue to Site »

Risk Arbitrage

Filed Under » , , , ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Risk Arbitrage'

A broad definition for three types of arbitrage that contain an element of risk:

1) Merger and acquisition arbitrage - The simultaneous purchase of stock in a company being acquired and the sale (or short sale) of stock in the acquiring company.

2) Liquidation arbitrage - The exploitation of a difference between a company's current value and its estimated liquidation value.

3) Pairs trading - The exploitation of a difference between two very similar companies in the same industry that have historically been highly correlated. When the two company's values diverge to a historically high level you can take an offsetting position in each (e.g. go long in one and short the other) because, as history has shown, they will inevitable come to be similarly valued.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Risk Arbitrage'

In theory true arbitrage is riskless, however, the world in which we operate offers very few of these opportunities. Despite these forms of arbitrage being somewhat risky, they are still relatively low-risk trading strategies which money managers (mainly hedge fund managers) and retail investors alike can employ.

Articles Of Interest

  1.

    Are Derivatives Safe For Retail Investors?

    These vehicles have gotten a bad rap in the press. Find out whether they deserve it.

  2. Trading The Odds With Arbitrage

    Profiting from arbitrage is not only for market makers - retail traders can find opportunity in risk arbitrage.

  3. What happens to the stock prices of two companies involved in an acquisition?

    When a firm acquires another entity, there usually is a predictable short-term effect on the stock price of both companies. In general, the acquiring company's stock will fall while the target ...

  4. The Basics Of Mergers And Acquisitions

    Learn what corporate restructuring is, why companies do it and why it sometimes doesn't work.

  5. Arbitrage Squeezes Profit From Market Inefficiency

    This influential strategy capitalizes on the relationship between price and liquidity.

  6. Behavioral Bias - Cognitive Vs. Emotional Bias In Investing

    We all have biases. The key to better investing is to identify those biases and create rules to minimize their effect.

  7. Quants: The Rocket Scientists Of Wall Street

    Blend math, finance and computer skills to command a high - and well deserved - salary.

  8. Financial Career Options For Professionals

    Find out if spreading your wings to try a new career will make you soar or fall flat.

  9. Why Your Pension Plan Has Sovereign Debt In It

    One type of security pensions tend to invest in is sovereign debt, or debt issued by a government.

  10. 7 Unconventional Ways Businesses Can Borrow Money

    Find out how your business can get the money it needs - even when the bank says "no".
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions

  1. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.

  2. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.

  3. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.

  4. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.

  5. Icarus Factor

    The term Icarus factor describes a situation where managers or executives initiate an overly ambitious project which then fails. Fueled by excitement for the project, the executives are unable to reign in their misguided enthusiasm before it is too late to avoid the failure.

  6. Angelina Jolie Stock Index

    An index made up of a selection of stocks from companies associated with actress Angela Jolie.
Trading Center