How is market risk defined in the context of investments?

Market risk is defined as the risk of losses from changes in market prices, which encompasses aspects such as structural market shifts, fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates, and other external factors that can impact the valuation of investments. This type of risk affects a broad array of securities and asset classes, making it intrinsic to the overall market environment. Market risk is unavoidable, meaning that even the most well-researched and managed investments might experience declines in value due to factors unrelated to the individual assets themselves.

In this context, the focus on market prices highlights how changes in the broader economic landscape—such as shifts in supply and demand, geopolitical events, and macroeconomic indicators—can lead to alterations in the valuations of investments. This is distinct from other types of risks that are more focused on individual companies or sectors, which don't necessarily reflect the overall market dynamics.

The other options address different types of risks that do not match the concept of market risk as defined here. Specifically, the risk due to company-specific events does not account for external market influences and the risk of fraud or inflation relate to specific scenarios rather than the general marketplace volatility that characterizes market risk.