Beta

Beta is a measure of sensitivity of fund performance relative to changes in benchmark performance. A fund with a beta of 1.0 has tended to experience up and down movements of roughly the same magnitude as the benchmark, and a beta of 1.2 means that the movement of the fund is 1.2 times that of the benchmark. A higher beta means higher risk associated with the benchmark. When markets are trending up, high betas imply high returns, since a beta above 1.0 amplifies the market's movements and the same would apply in down markets (increased loss).