Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and ...

Sean Ross is a strategic adviser at 1031x.com, Investopedia contributor, and the founder and manager of Free Lances Ltd. Thomas J Catalano is a CFP and Registered Investment Adviser with the state of ...

Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1, indicating the strength of relationships between variables. Investors use correlation coefficients for portfolio diversification to reduce risk.

In the first case, there is a strong upward-sloping relationship between X and Y; in the second case, no apparent relationship; in the third case, a strong downward-sloping relationship. Note the ...