Diversification is the practice of spreading trading or investment capital across different instruments, asset classes, sectors, strategies, or regions. It reduces how much any single position, market, or source of return can affect the whole portfolio.
Diversification works best when the assets do not move together. You assess correlation, because highly correlated assets can fall at the same time during market stress, which weakens the protection diversification gives.
Diversification reduces portfolio risk but does not remove it. A concentrated portfolio loads risk onto one position or market, while a diversified one spreads it, yet market-wide events, liquidity shocks, and high volatility can still hit many assets at once.
You hold a USD 10,000 portfolio.
Instead of putting the full amount in one technology stock, you spread the capital across shares, gold, forex, and an index CFD.
If the technology stock falls, gains or stability in the other positions can soften the impact on the overall portfolio.