What is Granular Portfolio?

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A granular portfolio is an investment portfolio that is well diversified across a wide variety of assets, typically with a significant number of holdings. Because this type of portfolio contains a large number of positions in different asset classes and/or sectors, it is considered to have a lower overall risk profile. Conversely, portfolios that have "low granularity" have fewer positions or contain highly correlated assets. They are less diversified and have a higher overall risk profile.

Definition

A granular portfolio is an investment portfolio that is widely diversified across multiple assets, typically with a large number of holdings. This type of portfolio is considered to have lower overall risk because it holds significant positions across different asset classes and/or industries. In contrast, a portfolio with 'low granularity' has fewer positions or contains highly correlated assets, making it less diversified and higher in overall risk.

Origin

The concept of a granular portfolio originates from Modern Portfolio Theory, introduced by Harry Markowitz in the 1950s. Markowitz emphasized reducing investment risk through diversification, a principle that has evolved into today's granular portfolio strategies.

Categories and Features

Granular portfolios can be categorized by asset class, geographic region, or industry. Their main feature is holding a large number of different assets to achieve maximum diversification. The advantages include reducing the impact of individual asset volatility on the overall portfolio, but the disadvantages are higher management and monitoring costs.

Case Studies

A typical example is the Vanguard Group's Total Market Index Fund, which invests in thousands of stocks covering almost all industries and markets. Another example is BlackRock's Global Bond Fund, which diversifies across multiple countries' bond markets to mitigate the risk of single market volatility.

Common Issues

Investors often misunderstand the diversification effect of granular portfolios, believing that holding a variety of assets can completely avoid risk. In reality, while diversification can reduce risk, it cannot eliminate market risk entirely. Additionally, managing a large number of assets may lead to higher management fees.

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A liquidity trap is an adverse economic situation that can occur when consumers and investors hoard cash rather than spending or investing it even when interest rates are low, stymying efforts by economic policymakers to stimulate economic growth.The term was first used by economist John Maynard Keynes, who defined a liquidity trap as a condition that can occur when interest rates fall so low that most people prefer to let cash sit rather than put money into bonds and other debt instruments. The effect, Keynes said, is to leave monetary policymakers powerless to stimulate growth by increasing the money supply or lowering the interest rate further.A liquidity trap may develop when consumers and investors keep their cash in checking and savings accounts because they believe interest rates will soon rise. That would make bond prices fall, and make them a less attractive option.Since Keynes' day, the term has been used more broadly to describe a condition of slow economic growth caused by widespread cash hoarding due to concern about a negative event that may be coming.

Liquidity Trap

A liquidity trap is an adverse economic situation that can occur when consumers and investors hoard cash rather than spending or investing it even when interest rates are low, stymying efforts by economic policymakers to stimulate economic growth.The term was first used by economist John Maynard Keynes, who defined a liquidity trap as a condition that can occur when interest rates fall so low that most people prefer to let cash sit rather than put money into bonds and other debt instruments. The effect, Keynes said, is to leave monetary policymakers powerless to stimulate growth by increasing the money supply or lowering the interest rate further.A liquidity trap may develop when consumers and investors keep their cash in checking and savings accounts because they believe interest rates will soon rise. That would make bond prices fall, and make them a less attractive option.Since Keynes' day, the term has been used more broadly to describe a condition of slow economic growth caused by widespread cash hoarding due to concern about a negative event that may be coming.

Liquidity Crisis

A liquidity crisis is a financial situation characterized by a lack of cash or easily-convertible-to-cash assets on hand across many businesses or financial institutions simultaneously.In a liquidity crisis, liquidity problems at individual institutions lead to an acute increase in demand and decrease in supply of liquidity, and the resulting lack of available liquidity can lead to widespread defaults and even bankruptcies.

Liquidity Crisis

A liquidity crisis is a financial situation characterized by a lack of cash or easily-convertible-to-cash assets on hand across many businesses or financial institutions simultaneously.In a liquidity crisis, liquidity problems at individual institutions lead to an acute increase in demand and decrease in supply of liquidity, and the resulting lack of available liquidity can lead to widespread defaults and even bankruptcies.

Liquidity Event

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Liquidity Event

A liquidity event is an acquisition, merger, initial public offering (IPO), or other action that allows founders and early investors in a company to cash out some or all of their ownership shares.A liquidity event is considered an exit strategy for an illiquid investment or equity with little or no market to trade on. Founders of a firm push toward a liquidity event, and investors like venture capital (VC) firms, angel investors, or private equity firms expect one within a reasonable amount of time after initially investing capital.

Liquid Alternatives

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Liquid Alternatives

Liquid alternative investments (or liquid alts) are mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that aim to provide investors with diversification and downside protection through exposure to alternative investment strategies. These products' selling point is that they are liquid, meaning that they can be bought and sold daily, unlike traditional alternatives which offer monthly or quarterly liquidity. They come with lower minimum investments than the typical hedge fund, and investors don't have to pass net-worth or income requirements to invest. Critics argue that the liquidity of so-called liquid alts will not hold up in more trying market conditions; most of the capital invested in liquid alts has entered the market during the post-financial crisis bull market. Critics also contend that the fees for liquid alternatives are too high. For proponents, though, liquid alts are a valuable innovation because they make the strategies employed by hedge funds accessible to retail investors.

Zero-Coupon Convertible

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Zero-Coupon Convertible

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Zero-Investment Portfolio

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Zero-Investment Portfolio

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