Financial and Non Financial Risk Examples

Financial risk mainly stems from the volatility of debt securities. Other sources of financial risk include defaults, changes in market interest rates, and other risks.

Non-financial risk stems from other business operations and is less prone to correlation with market factors. These include strategic risks and operational risks. These risks are harder to manage and the link between cause, event, and impact is broader.

Market risk

Market risk is the chance that a portfolio’s value could decline due to changes in the financial markets. This type of risk is a common concern for investors and businesses. It can be mitigated through diversification, hedging, and active monitoring. It can also be assessed through risk-adjusted performance ratios like the Sharpe, Sortino, and Treynor ratios, as well as stress testing.

Several types of market risk can affect a company’s productivity and results. The most common include credit risk, liquidity risk, and asset-backed risk. Companies can face credit risk if they accept or lend money to customers who are unlikely to pay their debts. This can be an issue for retail and service industries. It can also be an issue if companies purchase goods or services on credit.

Several factors contribute to market risk, including the volatility of the equity and bond markets, changes in currency rates, and economic events such as recessions or geopolitical crises. Another factor is the volatility of interest rates, which can cause fixed-rate investments to lose value over time. For example, if an investor invests in a treasury bond with a low interest rate, it may be worth less in 2023 than it is today. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on the interest rate trend to ensure that an investment has a competitive return rate.

Business or operating risk

Business risk is the exposure that a company or organization has to factors that can decrease its profits or even lead to failure. This type of risk can be caused by a wide range of factors, including a changing market, competition, or changes in consumer demand. It can also be caused by a change in a company’s leadership or management. Business risk can be categorized as strategic, compliance, or operational risk.

Operational risk is the risks that a company faces in conducting its day-to-day activities within a given industry or field. It differs from market and credit risk, which are often considered more systemic risks. This category of risk encompasses a wide range of problems that can affect a company, from fraud to employee safety issues.

One example of a business-related risk is a faulty software program, which could result in a financial loss or other business disruption. Another example is a natural disaster, which can disrupt a company’s supply chain or physical infrastructure.

These types of events can affect a company’s reputation and its ability to meet its financial goals. For example, a bank that fails to follow anti-money laundering laws could face fines and reputational damage. It’s important for banks to identify and quantify these risks so they can take appropriate measures. The banking crisis of the mid-1990s led to increased focus on the identification and measurement of operational risk, as well as new regulations aimed at protecting against it.

Political or economic risk

Political or economic risks can be caused by changes in the market, which affect the financial health of businesses. These changes can include defaults in debt securities, increased market interest rates, and a shift in currency values. These changes can have a big impact on companies that operate in different countries, or sell products and services abroad. They can also have a negative impact on people who invest in those markets.

There are several ways to mitigate the risk of financial losses. One way is to diversify your investments. Another way is to reduce your debt level. It is also important to have another source of income, such as a side business or freelance work. This will help you avoid the loss of your investment assets and provide you with additional income.

The most common type of financial risk is the risk that you will not be able to pay your debts when needed. This can happen when you are unable to earn enough money to repay your debts or when the value of your assets falls below their borrowing cost.

The risks a company faces when operating in foreign countries are often related to politics and security. These risks can range from war, confiscation of assets, and change in import-export laws to political violence, civil unrest, and changing regulations. To minimize this risk, a company should have a deep understanding of the domestic and international affairs of the country it plans to enter.

Technology risk

As the business environment becomes more volatile, many companies are questioning their standard risk-management approaches. Thought leaders are calling for a move beyond risk management to corporate resilience. These new strategies rely on early warning systems and greater resilience to mitigate the effects of disruptions in the business environment.

Financial risk is the chance that a company will not be able to accomplish finance-related objectives, such as paying loans on time or delivering goods and services on time. By understanding what causes financial risk and putting measures in place to prevent it, a company can increase its operational efficiency and yield better returns.

A nonfinancial risk is a potential danger that a company faces due to its activities or external factors. It can be the loss of a valuable asset, the threat of a lawsuit, or the impact on employees or customers. These risks can be a result of poor decisions or actions, such as taking an unnecessary day off from work or highly speculative investments.

Nonfinancial risks include reputational risk, third party risk, and cyber risk. They are typically managed by a team of front-line staff across all areas of the business. However, they often lack the same data and analysis that are available for more established financial risks. As a result, they are difficult to manage effectively.