Liquiditeetin

Liquiditeetin is a Finnish term that translates to "liquidity" in English. It refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price. In essence, it measures how quickly an asset can be sold.

Assets are often categorized on a spectrum of liquidity. Highly liquid assets include cash itself, checking accounts, and savings accounts. These can be accessed and used almost immediately. Less liquid assets might include real estate or collectibles, which can take significant time and effort to sell, and whose price might fluctuate during the selling process.

In financial markets, liquidity is a crucial factor. A liquid market is one where there are many buyers and sellers, making it easy to trade assets without causing large price swings. This is beneficial for investors as it reduces the risk of being unable to sell an asset quickly at a desired price. Conversely, an illiquid market can make trading difficult and potentially risky.

Companies also assess their liquidity to ensure they can meet their short-term financial obligations. This involves analyzing their current assets and liabilities. A company with good liquidity is generally considered more financially stable and less likely to face bankruptcy. Various financial ratios, such as the current ratio and quick ratio, are used to measure a company's liquidity.