What type of financial risk does market risk encompass?

Market risk refers to the potential for an investor to experience losses due to factors that affect the overall performance of the financial markets. It encompasses risks that arise from fluctuations in the market itself, which can include changes in prices for stocks, bonds, commodities, or other assets within the marketplace.

The correct choice highlights that market risk primarily involves changes in market prices. This can be caused by various external factors such as economic events, geopolitical developments, or changes in investor sentiment, which can lead to increased volatility and impact the value of investments.

Other types of financial risks mentioned in the options, such as interest rate fluctuations, operational failures, and credit defaults, are categorized differently. For instance, interest rate fluctuations specifically relate to the risk of changes in interest rates affecting the value of securities, particularly fixed-income investments. Operational failures pertain to risks arising from inadequate internal processes or systems within a company. Credit defaults concern the inability of a borrower to meet their debt obligations. While all of these can impact the financial landscape, they do not fall under the umbrella of market risk as defined by changes in market prices.