Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/iii/paper-35/1/b/solution

Write and let denote the risky holdings as fractions of total wealth. The remaining fraction is in the risk-free asset. Consequently their excess expected return is and their variance is . The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in the inner product defined by gives
Equality with positive excess return holds precisely for , , where . Thus solving determines both the efficient risky direction and the upper capital market line slope. Provided , the normalized market portfolio and its Sharpe ratio are
Here the excess means are , so the required equations are
The leading principal minors of are , and , so Sylvester's criterion verifies positive definiteness and the solution is unique.

New to topics? Read the docs here!