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Market Portfolio

A market portfolio is a theoretical portfolio that includes all available assets in the market, weighted according to their market value. It represents the entire market's risk and return profile and is often used as a benchmark in financial models like the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). In practice, index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking major stock indices like the S&P 500 serve as proxies for the market portfolio.

Example

An investor seeking to replicate the performance of the market portfolio might invest in an index fund that tracks the S&P 500, reflecting the collective risk and return of the market.

Key points

A theoretical portfolio that includes all assets in the market, weighted by their market value.

Used as a benchmark in models like CAPM to assess expected returns.

Index funds tracking major stock indices are often used as practical proxies.

Quick Answers to Curious Questions

A market portfolio includes all assets in the market, weighted by market value, representing the market's overall risk and return.

It serves as a benchmark in models like CAPM to calculate expected returns based on market risk.

Investors cannot directly invest in a theoretical market portfolio but can use index funds or ETFs as practical proxies.
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