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Types of risk

Understand why four key risks: (1) Market risk — systematic price movements affect all investments (NGX bear market affects most stocks), (2) Inflation risk — Nigeria's high inflation can erode real returns on low-yielding assets, (3) Currency risk — naira volatility affects foreign-currency assets, (4) Credit risk — bond issuer default (e.

In this lesson

Types of risk is part of Investing Foundations. This preview shows how investment-universe connects to everyday family decisions such as earning, saving, spending choices, goals, approvals, or parent-guided money conversations inside Progress Penguin.

Today’s money mission

Imagine this situation: You invest in a US dollar-denominated fund from Nigeria. The naira depreciates 40% against the dollar.

What you need to know

Four key risks: (1) Market risk — systematic price movements affect all investments (NGX bear market affects most stocks), (2) Inflation risk — Nigeria's high inflation can erode real returns on low-yielding assets, (3) Currency risk — naira volatility affects foreign-currency assets, (4) Credit risk — bond issuer default (e.g. corporate bond issuer goes bankrupt).

Real-life example

Real-life money moment: You invest in a US dollar-denominated fund from Nigeria. The naira depreciates 40% against the dollar. What type of risk does this represent and does it help or hurt you? The key lesson is: Currency risk cuts both ways.

Progress Penguin connection

Open the investment simulator and apply each risk type as a percentage reduction to a 15% nominal return: 5% inflation risk, 3% currency risk, 2% liquidity risk. Watch the real return column after each reduction. Risk is not one thing — it is a stack of separate pressures.

Activity preview

Try the money challenge

Run the investment model and test: four key risks: (1) Market risk — systematic price movements affect all investments (NGX. Adjust one variable — time, rate, or amount — and note which has the biggest effect on the final balance.

Try one real money action

Open Tasks and submit proof for one task, or open Requests and make a deposit request. Parent approval can happen later.

Quiz preview

'Currency risk' affects:

Stocks only
All money equally
Cash only
Money held in foreign currency

You invest in a US dollar-denominated fund from Nigeria. The naira depreciates 40% against the dollar. What type of risk does this represent and does it help or hurt you?

Inflation risk — unrelated to currency movements for the typical person
Credit risk — the fund manager defaulted for the typical person under normal conditions
Currency risk — in this case it HELPS you: your dollar investment is now worth 40% more in naira terms when converted back
Market risk — it hurts your investment under normal conditions as a general rule