ABSTRACT

Skewness is the degree to which returns are asymmetric around their mean. Since a normal distribution is symmetric around the mean, skewness can be taken as one measure of how returns are not distributed normally. Why does skewness matter? If portfolio returns are right, or positively, skewed, it implies numerous small negative returns and a few large positive returns. If portfolio returns are left, or negatively, skewed, it implies numerous small positive returns and few large negative returns.