What is volatility?
Volatility, in the world of finance, is the rapid and mostly unpredictable changes of the price of stocks or currencies. It's like a roller coaster ride for investors – full of twists, turns, ups and downs.
Volatility is a normal and expected part of investing, but it’s not as widely understood as it perhaps should be. In this guide, we’re going to demystify volatility to help you understand your options and make the best investment choices.
Types of volatility
There are two main types of volatility: implied and historical.
Understanding how they're different can help you better assess the risks and opportunities of investing in a particular asset or stock.
Implied volatility
This is how much the market expects prices to change. It's based on how much the cost of stocks are predicted to be in the future.
Imagine a tech company, XYZ Inc., is about to release its quarterly earnings. The market is uncertain about how the price will change, which results in a high implied volatility. This suggests that investors expect the stock price to swing wildly in response to the earnings announcement.
Historical volatility
As the name suggests, historical volatility looks at how the price of stocks have changed in the past. It measures the actual volatility that the stock experienced over a specific period.
Let's say that XYZ Inc. has a history of large price swings. Investors would consider this high historical volatility when deciding whether to invest in the company, as they know that the stock tends to be volatile (the stock price tends to change rapidly).
How does market volatility impact investments?
Market volatility can have a significant impact on investments.
Stocks with high volatility are riskier because they have a greater chance of big losses or gains. The price is constantly changing and can experience large swings in a short period – this can be both a blessing and a curse for investors!
High volatility
High volatility can present opportunities to make substantial gains.
When a stock's price is fluctuating rapidly, there is opportunity for quick and potentially lucrative trades. For example, if you buy a stock at a low price and then sell it at a higher price, you could make a good profit.
On the other hand, high volatility also comes with more risk.
This is because the price of volatile stocks is highly sensitive to market conditions and can quickly decline. If you buy a stock at a high price, but the price then drops, you may make significant losses if the stock's price plummets.
Low volatility
Investors consider stocks that have a more stable price that changes gradually over time to have low volatility and to be much less risky.
Low volatile stocks have a lower potential to make money, but also a lower likelihood of experiencing significant losses.
So, which is better for investments?
Let's consider two hypothetical stocks: Stock A and Stock B.
Stock A has a history of high volatility, with its price frequently experiencing large swings. Stock B, on the other hand, has low volatility and its price tends to be relatively stable.
If you decide to invest in Stock A, you should prepare for the possibility of big gains or losses. The stock's price may increase rapidly – but it could also decline just as quickly.
But if you choose to invest in Stock B, you can expect a more stable investment. While the potential gains may be smaller compared to Stock A, the chances of experiencing significant losses are also smaller.
Ultimately, the choice between low- and high-volatility stocks depends on how much risk you're prepared to take with your money.
How to manage volatility
Market volatility can be unsettling for investors, but there are strategies you can use to manage its impact.
Here are some tips for managing market volatility:
- Have a long-term plan: Sticking to a clear investment plan that reflects your financial goals can help stop you making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations.
- Keep an emergency fund: Having a financial safety net that you can easily access can help you avoid needing to sell your investments at a loss when the price is low simply because you need the money.
- Rebalance your portfolio: Regularly review your investments to make sure they meet your goals.
- Diversify your investments: By having lots of different types of investments, you can reduce the impact of volatility as it's less likely that an event will impact all of your investments at the same time, for example if you invest in different asset classes, sectors and locations. Investment funds can help you diversify your investments by choosing different assets for you.
Take your investment knowledge to the next level with OneFamily
Remember, market volatility is a normal part of investing, and it’s important to stay focused on your long-term goals.
By understanding what volatility is and having a plan in place to manage it, you can navigate these price fluctuations with confidence.
Find out more about investing in our Investing for Beginners hub.
New to investing?
Interested in investing long-term?
With one, simple annual management charge of 1.1%, our Stocks and Shares ISA could be a good option if you're looking to invest over the long term.
As our ISA invests in stocks and shares, it is impacted by volatility so the value of your investment is likely to go up and down over time. This is normal but it could mean you get back less than you pay in if you withdraw your money at a time when its value is lower.
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