The following table lists the stock prices for Microsoft from 1989 to 1998. The company did not pay any dividends during the period.

Year

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Price

$ 1.20 $ 2.09 $ 4.64 $ 5.34 $ 5.05 $ 7.64 $10.97 $20.66 $32.31 $69.34

a. Estimate the average annual return you would have made on your investment.

b. Estimate the standard deviation and variance in annual returns.

c. If you were investing in Microsoft today, would you expect the historical standard deviations and variances to continue to hold? Why or why not?

2. Unicom is a regulated utility serving northern Illinois. The following table lists

the stock prices and dividends on Unicom from 1989 to 1998.

Year Price

1989 $36.10

1990 $33.60

1991 $37.80

1992 $30.90

1993 $26.80

1994 $24.80

1995 $31.60

1996 $28.50

1997 $24.25

1998 $35.60

Dividends

$3.00 $3.00 $3.00 $2.30 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60

a. Estimate the average annual return you would have made on your investment?

b. Estimate the standard deviation and variance in annual returns.

c. If you were investing in Unicom today, would you expect the historical standard deviations and variances to continue to hold? Why or why not?