Explanation : William F. Sharpe and John Linter developed
the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
The model is based on the portfolio theory
developed by Harry Markowitz. The model
emphasises the risk factor in portfolio theory
is a combination of two risks, systematic risk
and unsystematic risk. The model suggests
that a security’s return is directly related to
its systematic risk, which can not be
neutralised through diversification. The
combination of both types of risks stated
above provides the total risk. The total
variance of returns is equal to market related
variance plus company’s specific variance.
CAPM explains the behaviour of security
prices and provides a mechanism whereby
investors could assess the impact of a
proposed security investment on the overall
portfolio risk and return. CAPM suggests that
the prices of securities are determined in such
a way that the risk premium or excess returns
are proportional to systematic risk, which is
indicated by the beta coefficient. The model
is used for analysing the risk-return
implications of holding securities. CAPM
refers to the manner in which securities are
valued in line with their anticipated risks
and returns. A risk-averse investor prefers to
invest in risk-free securities. For a small
investor having few securities in his portfolio,
the risk is greater. To reduce the unsystematic
risk, he must build up well-diversified
securities in his portfolio.