Low volatility investing and benchmarks

April 21, 2012

The focus on tracking error rules out a low volatility strategy.

Simply put, most money managers are focused on outperforming their benchmarks without adding risk. And because risk is measured on a relative basis, a portfolio that moves up and down less than its benchmark is perceived as more risky on a relative basis because it is considered less correlated.

from “Is modern portfolio theory bunk?” (my emphasis)

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