We construct a non-random matrix using random variables as follows: We fix the vector $v=(1,1)$ and choose $\Sigma \in \mathbb R^{2 \times 2}$ positive definite. Let $X$ be a $\mathbb R^2$-valued random variable such that $X$ is distributed according to $$d\mu(x) \propto e^{-\langle (x-v), \Sigma^{-1} (x-v) \rangle-\vert x_1 \vert^4-\vert x_2 \vert^4} \ dx.$$ We then define the following deterministic matrix using centred random variables $Y=X-\mathbb E(X)$ $$ \langle x,Ay\rangle = -\mathbb E\left(\langle Y,x \rangle \langle Y,\Sigma^{-1} v \rangle \langle Y, y\rangle\right).$$ Fedja proved in [this thread][1] that for any $v$ and $\Sigma$ diagonal, the matrix $A$ is positive definite. He understood that in this case the matrix is essentially diagonal, as components $x_1,x_2$ are uncorrelated. His proof also shows that for $x=\Sigma^{-1}v$ we have also for non-diagonal $\Sigma $ $$\langle x,Ax\rangle \ge 0$$ We then discussed in the comments whether this would also be true in the correlated case but did not get anywhere so far. Numerically it seems that for all choices of $\Sigma$ I made so far, the matrix $A$ is positive definite. Here you can find the Mathematica file I was using to verify this [Click me][2] **My question therefore is:** How can I show the eigenvalues of $A$ are non-negative or is this wrong once $\Sigma$ is not assumed to be diagonal? Please let me know if you have any questions. [1]: https://mathoverflow.net/posts/351509/edit [2]: https://gofile.io/?c=YnM19e