CAMS-RM practice question 15 of 15

What is the type of risk where the danger that the value of investments will suffer as the result of a change in interest rates?

Full set: 59 questions
Answer options
A: Liquidity risk
B: Market risk
C: Interest rate risk Correct answer
D: Operational risk
Correct Answer:
C. Interest rate risk
Explanation

Interest rate risk is the specific risk that the value of an asset, particularly a fixed-income security like a bond, will decline due to a rise in interest rates. When market interest rates increase, newly issued bonds offer higher yields, making existing bonds with lower fixed rates less attractive. Consequently, the market price (value) of these older bonds decreases. The question provides a direct and precise definition of this specific type of financial risk. While it is a component of market risk, it is the most accurate and specific answer available.

Why Incorrect

A. Liquidity risk is the risk that an asset cannot be sold quickly without a significant loss in price, not risk from interest rate changes.
B. Market risk is a broader category that includes interest rate risk, but "interest rate risk" is the more precise term for the specific scenario described.
D. Operational risk relates to failures in internal processes, people, or systems, or from external events, not from market interest rate fluctuations.

References

1. ACAMS. (2023). Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Risk Management Study Guide. Chapter 1: Risk Management Fundamentals. This chapter outlines various risk categories, including market risk and its sub-component, interest rate risk.

2. Bodie, Z., Kane, A., & Marcus, A. J. (2021). Investments (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter 16, "Managing Bond Portfolios," provides a detailed academic explanation of interest rate risk and its impact on investment values.

3. MIT OpenCourseWare. (2008). 15.401 Finance Theory I, Fall 2008. Lecture Notes, "Risk and Return." The course materials define and differentiate various financial risks, including systematic (market) risk and its components like interest rate risk.

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