What is the difference between systematic and unsystematic risk?

The distinction between systematic and unsystematic risk is foundational in understanding investment risk management. Systematic risk, also known as market risk, is the type of risk that affects the entire market or a broad range of assets, such as economic changes, political events, or natural disasters. This type of risk is inherent to the market and cannot be avoided through diversification, as it impacts all investments to some extent.

On the other hand, unsystematic risk is specific to a particular company or industry. This includes factors like company management decisions, operational issues, or changes in consumer preferences that can negatively impact a single firm or sector without affecting the overall market. Because unsystematic risk is isolated to specific entities, it can be mitigated through diversification, whereby an investor holds a variety of assets across different companies or industries to reduce the impact of specific risks.

Thus, stating that systematic risk affects the entire market while unsystematic risk is specific to a particular company or industry accurately captures the essence of these concepts. It highlights the nature of each risk type and their implications for investment strategy.