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Basic Question 0 of 27

What are correct characteristics of a random walk process?

I. It is not mean-reverting.
II. It is not covariance-stationary.
III. If an AR(1) model has b0 = 1 and b1 = 0, it becomes a random walk time series.
IV. There is no best forecast of xt that can be made in period t - 1 since the value of xt is random.

User Contributed Comments 3

User Comment
MasterD 1) A random walk is a special case of AR(1) where B0 = 0 and B1 = 1 (not as in III). Thus the mean reverting level = B0/(1-B1) = 0/0 and thus undefined. The textbook does state that "Therefore, a first-differenced random walk has a mean-reverting level of 0."
nsmwaura A random walk is where the predicted value of a series inn one period is equal to the value of the seris in the previous period plus a random error term.
nsmwaura B0 can be=0 if its random walk without a drift or not=0 if its a random walk with a drift. Eitherway, the meanreverting level will be undefined.
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I am happy to say that I passed! Your study notes certainly helped prepare me for what was the most difficult exam I had ever taken.
Andrea Schildbach

Andrea Schildbach

Learning Outcome Statements

explain international parity relations (covered and uncovered interest rate parity, forward rate parity, purchasing power parity, and the international Fisher effect);

describe relations among the international parity conditions;

evaluate the use of the current spot rate, the forward rate, purchasing power parity, and uncovered interest parity to forecast future spot exchange rates;

explain approaches to assessing the long-run fair value of an exchange rate;

CFA® 2025 Level II Curriculum, Volume 1, Module 8.