Why women take risks ... it's all down to their testosterone

Women who seek out risky financial trading jobs may have higher testosterone levels than those who stick to more stable careers, researchers say today.

Female MBA students with higher levels of the male hormone were far more likely to choose careers such as investment banking, the study found.

A team at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago measured the amount of testosterone in saliva samples taken from 500 male and female students.

They played a computer game that tested their attitude to risk. Women who were most willing to take gambles were found to have the highest levels of testosterone.

"This study could impact on actual risk-taking in financial markets, because many of these students will go on to become major players in the financial world," Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago said.