An economic theory that describes the relationship between
risk and
expected return, and serves as a model for the pricing of risky
securities. The C.A.P.M. asserts that the only risk that is priced by rational investors is
systematic risk, because that risk cannot be eliminated by diversification. The C.A.P.M. says that the
expected return of a
security or a
portfolio is equal to the rate on a risk-free security plus a risk
premium.