Question

Difficulty: MediumNon-Systematic and Credit Risks

Match each non-systematic risk category on the left with the investment scenario on the right that best illustrates it.

  • Business RiskA biotechnology firm experiences a sharp revenue collapse after its key drug candidate fails to secure regulatory approval.
  • Financial RiskA company with an exceptionally high debt-to-equity ratio faces severe profit volatility due to heavy fixed debt service costs during a downturn.
  • Credit RiskA corporate bond issuer defaults on its commitment to make a scheduled semi-annual interest payment to bondholders.
  • Liquidity RiskAn investor holding a thinly traded municipal revenue bond cannot sell the position quickly without taking a significant price discount.

Answer

Business Risk pairs with drug candidate failure; Financial Risk pairs with high debt-to-equity ratio volatility; Credit Risk pairs with corporate bond interest default; Liquidity Risk pairs with inability to quickly sell thinly traded municipal bonds without price concessions.
Each non-systematic risk matches its defining characteristics: Business risk is operational failure, Financial risk is leverage burden, Credit risk is obligation default, and Liquidity risk is secondary market illiquidity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify risk associated with commercial operations and product performance.
Drug trial failure belongs to Business Risk.
Business risk directly reflects operating performance and firm-specific business decisions.
2
Examine risks created by capital structure and fixed debt obligations.
Fixed debt obligations driving profit volatility is Financial Risk.
Financial risk measures the leverage and debt burden of the issuing entity.
3
Evaluate non-payment of contractual debt obligations.
Default on coupon payment is Credit Risk.
Credit risk reflects the probability of issuer default on interest or principal.
4
Assess marketability and trade execution speed.
Difficulty liquidating a position at fair value is Liquidity Risk.
Liquidity risk depends on market depth and trading volume.

Key Concept

Categorization of Non-Systematic Risk Types
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