Sheryl

What are Basis Points and Why Use Them? Basis points, often abbreviated as bps, are a unit of measure used predominantly in finance to express changes in interest rates, yields, and other financial percentages. One basis point is equal to one-hundredth of one percentage point (0.01%). The primary reason for using basis points instead of … Read more

Understanding Portfolio Risk: Measuring Volatility Portfolio risk is an essential concept for investors to understand, as it reflects the potential for an investment’s value to fluctuate. A key metric for measuring this risk is the standard deviation, which quantifies the dispersion or spread of returns around the average return of a portfolio. Essentially, standard deviation … Read more

Understanding Today’s 3-Month Treasury Bill Rates Three-month Treasury bills are short-term debt securities issued by the U.S. government. They represent a loan you make to the government, with repayment occurring after three months. Treasury bills are considered one of the safest investments available because the U.S. government backs them. This low-risk nature makes them attractive … Read more

Understanding Yield to Maturity Yield to maturity (YTM) is a crucial metric for evaluating fixed-income securities like bonds. It represents the total return anticipated on a bond if held until it matures. Understanding how to find YTM in Excel is essential for investors making informed decisions. YTM is directly linked to a bond’s price. A … Read more

Small-Cap Stock Market: Exploring Russell 2000 Stocks Understanding the Russell 2000 Index The Russell 2000 Index serves as a critical benchmark for small-cap stocks. Small-cap companies represent a distinct segment of the stock market. Their size and market capitalization differ significantly from large-cap companies. Understanding these differences is essential for investors considering a list of … Read more

Understanding Bond Pricing: What You Need to Know Bond valuation is a critical skill for any investor looking to navigate the fixed income market. The price of a bond is not always as straightforward as it may seem, and understanding the factors that influence it is essential for making informed investment decisions. Several elements can … Read more

Calculating Covariance in Spreadsheets: An Introductory Approach Covariance is a statistical measure that reveals the relationship between two variables. It indicates how much these variables change together. Understanding covariance is crucial for analyzing data trends. Spreadsheets like Excel offer a user-friendly environment for calculating this measure. This makes them ideal tools for anyone looking to … Read more

The Foundation of Hypothesis Testing in Regression Hypothesis testing forms a cornerstone of statistical inference, providing a structured framework for validating linear regression models. It allows researchers to determine whether observed relationships between variables are likely genuine or simply the result of random variation. The core objective is to assess the evidence against a specific … Read more

What is Alpha and Why Does it Matter? In investment, alpha represents the excess return of an investment relative to a benchmark index, such as the S&P 500. It is a key metric for evaluating investment performance. Investors actively seek investments with positive alpha, as it signals outperformance compared to the market. This indicates the … Read more

Demystifying How to Use Financial Contracts in Everyday Scenarios Financial contracts, often perceived as complex instruments reserved for Wall Street experts, play a far more significant role in the everyday economy than many realize. These contracts, at their core, are agreements that transfer risk from one party to another. Think of a farmer agreeing to … Read more