Module: | MODULE B: RISK MANAGEMENT
Q354: A trading desk reports a 1-day Value at Risk (VaR) of ₹ 2 Crore for its government securities portfolio. The regulator requires the bank to calculate a 10-day VaR for capital adequacy reporting.
Using the square root of time scaling rule, calculate the approximate 10-day VaR for this portfolio. (Assume the square root of 10 is approximately 3.16).
✅ Correct Answer: A
The correct answer is A (₹ 6.32 Crore). The "Square Root of Time" rule is a standard industry practice used to scale VaR from a shorter time horizon to a longer one, assuming independent and identically distributed returns.
The formula is: VaR for T days = 1-day VaR * the square root of T. To find the 10-day VaR, you multiply the 1-day VaR by the square root of 10.
Given the 1-day VaR is ₹ 2 Crore and the square root of 10 is approximately 3.16, the calculation is: ₹ 2 Crore * 3.16 = ₹ 6.32 Crore.
Option B (₹ 20.00 Crore) is a classic distractor error where the 1-day VaR is linearly multiplied by 10, which grossly overestimates risk.
Option C is just the square root value.
Option D is mathematically arbitrary.
The formula is: VaR for T days = 1-day VaR * the square root of T. To find the 10-day VaR, you multiply the 1-day VaR by the square root of 10.
Given the 1-day VaR is ₹ 2 Crore and the square root of 10 is approximately 3.16, the calculation is: ₹ 2 Crore * 3.16 = ₹ 6.32 Crore.
Option B (₹ 20.00 Crore) is a classic distractor error where the 1-day VaR is linearly multiplied by 10, which grossly overestimates risk.
Option C is just the square root value.
Option D is mathematically arbitrary.