Skewness

Definition

Skewness in finance refers to the measurement of the asymmetry of the probability distribution of a real-valued random variable about its mean. It can be either negative, positive, or undefined. Positive skewness indicates that data points are skewed or lean towards the right of the average data point, while negative skewness implies data points are skewed to the left.

Phonetic

The phonetic pronunciation of the word “Skewness” is: /ˈskjuːnɪs/

Key Takeaways

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1. Skewness is a statistical measure that describes the shape and symmetry of data distribution. It shows the extent and direction of skew (departure from horizontal symmetry) in the data.
2. Positive skewness indicates that the tail on the right side of the distribution is longer or fatter, meaning the distribution has more values at the right of the mean. Negative skewness indicates that the tail on the left side of the distribution is longer, meaning there are more values at the left of the mean.
3. Interpreting skewness is a valuable tool in predictive modeling. It helps us understand the nature of the distribution of the variable, facilitating more accurate and insightful data analysis.

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Importance

Skewness is an important business/finance term as it allows statistical analysis of returns or elements of a financial portfolio, providing vital information about the nature of the return distribution. It measures the asymmetry of the probability distribution of a real-valued random variable about its mean. By identifying the degree of skewness, financial analysts can get a better understanding of the potential risks involved in a particular investment or portfolio. If returns are negatively skewed, it indicates a high probability of extreme negative outcomes, whereas positive skewness suggests a larger chance of extreme positive outcomes. Understanding skewness can help in formulating appropriate investment strategies and managing risks accurately thereby aiding in effective decision-making in finance.

Explanation

Skewness is a valuable tool in finance and business as it helps market researchers, financial analysts, and economists understand the symmetry of a distribution around its mean. It’s used to measure the asymmetry of the probability distribution of a random variable around its mean. In other words, it’s a statistical measure which indicates whether an observed data set is normally distributed or not. If the dataset contains outliers or extreme values, skewness can effectively detect this asymmetry.The primary purpose of skewness in a financial context is to predict future market trends and assist in making informed investment decisions. It allows investors and analysts to understand the nature of returns of an asset or security, by shedding light on the propensity of the results to tilt towards a particular direction. If the returns are skewed positively, it implies a majority of returns are situated on the right of the mean (i.e., higher than the average returns). Conversely, a negative skewness indicates most returns are on the left of the mean (lower than average). This knowledge, along with other statistical measures like kurtosis, helps in forming a comprehensive understanding of market behavior and risks associated with investments.

Examples

1. Stock Market Returns: Financial analysts often measure the skewness of stock market returns to understand their risk and return characteristics. A positive skewness indicates that the stock often gives a reasonable return, exceeding average expectations. However, it also suggests that there might be periods when the stock performs extremely poorly (since a skewed distribution has long tails). 2. Real Estate Prices: The skewness in real estate prices is another real world example. In a city where a significant proportion of properties are luxury homes, the average price may appear very high. However, if the distribution of home prices is positively skewed, it means that most homes cost less than the median. 3. Income Distribution: The distribution of incomes within a certain country or locality often displays skewness. Typically, income is right-skewed, meaning that while most salaries fall within a certain low to middle range, a small number of people earn much more, pulling the mean salary upwards. This is crucial information for policy makers and economists when analyzing income inequality.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Kurtosis: A statistical measure that describes the shape of a probability distribution, specifically in terms of the heaviness of the tails and sharpness of the peak. Kurtosis and skewness are often used together to further understand the distribution of data.
• Probability Distribution: A mathematical function that provides the probabilities of outcomes of a particular statistical experiment. It is used to understand the likelihood of various outcomes related to an investment or to forecast potential trends.
• Standard Deviation: A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. A low standard deviation indicates that the values are close to the mean of the set, while a high standard deviation indicates values are spread out over a wider range. It is often used with skewness to assess investment risk.
• Mean: The average of a set of numbers, and an important measure in financial analysis. The direction of skewness (i.e., whether it is positive or negative) depends on if the majority of data points are to the left (negative skew) or right (positive skew) of the mean.
• Asymmetry: In finance, asymmetry refers to deviation from the standard or norm, similarly skewness measures the extent to which probability distribution of a real-world market return deviates from a normal distribution.

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• Corporate Finance Institute
• Explorable
• StatisticsHowTo