Analyzing Stock Return Data of Four Companies Listed on the NZ Stock Exchange for Two-Factor Portfol

Calculating Average Monthly Returns, Standard Deviation and Variance

Suppose you are considering an investment in a two-factor portfolio. You wanted to analyse the stock return data for five years from August 2016 to July 2021 of four companies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (www.nzx.com). In any possible two-factor portfolio, the weight of each security in the portfolio will be 50%. The possible portfolio combinations are A&B; B&C; A&C; C&D; A&D, and B&D. Four companies: Sky City Entertainment Group Limited (SKC) Fletcher Building Limited (FBU) and any TWO (2) NZ listed companies of your choice. Air New Zealand Limited (AIR.NZ) The Warehouse Group Limited (WHS.NZ) Calculate monthly stock returns for the above four companies for the period from August 2016 to July 2021. Stock return can be calculated using the formulae: Ri= (Pt - Pt-1)/Pt-1).   Stock price data can be obtained either fromclick on Historical prices. Required: Using the appropriate Excel function (see fx), determine the average monthly return, the standard deviation, and variance for each company. (Use 60 month returns data and use Excel functions “Variance P” and “Standard Deviation P.”)  Graphically show the stock price performance of the four companies for the periods from August 2016 to July 2021.  Comment on the companies’ stock price performance trend since April 2020.  4. Determine, using the appropriate Excel function, the covariance between securities