#Liquidity101
Liquidity refers to how easily and quickly an asset can be converted into cash without significantly affecting its price.
🔑 Key Concepts:
Liquid Assets: These are assets that can be quickly turned into cash.
Examples: Cash, stocks, government bonds.
Illiquid Assets: These take more time to sell and may lose value during the process.
Examples: Real estate, collectibles, private equity.
Market Liquidity vs. Accounting Liquidity:
Market Liquidity: Refers to how easily assets can be bought or sold in the market. A highly liquid market has many buyers and sellers.
Accounting Liquidity: Refers to a company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations using its current assets.
📊 Why Liquidity Matters:
For Investors: Higher liquidity means easier entry/exit from trades without price slippage.
For Businesses: Good liquidity ensures they can pay bills, salaries, and short-term debts.
In Financial Markets: Liquidity supports price stability and investor confidence.
💡 Common Liquidity Ratios (for businesses):
Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities
Quick Ratio = (Current Assets - Inventory) / Current Liabilities
Cash Ratio = Cash / Current Liabilities
🧠 Takeaway:
Liquidity is a fundamental concept in finance and investing. Whether you're managing personal finances, running a business, or trading in markets, understanding liquidity helps ensure smoother and more informed decisions.