Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset, such as a security or a financial instrument, can be bought or sold in the market without causing significant price movements. In other words, it measures the ability to convert the asset into cash quickly and at a price that closely reflects its intrinsic value.
A highly-liquid market has a large number of buyers and sellers, which means there are plenty of participants willing to transact at any given time. In such markets, large volumes of the asset can be bought or sold without significantly impacting its price.
On the other hand, a market with low liquidity has fewer participants, making it more difficult to execute trades without causing substantial price fluctuations. In illiquid markets, it may be challenging to find a counterparty to take the other side of a trade.
Liquidity is important for investors and traders because it provides them with the ability to enter or exit positions efficiently. High liquidity reduces the risk of being stuck in a position and allows for more accurate execution of trades at desired prices.
Factors that can affect liquidity include the size and activity of the market, the number of participants, news events, and economic conditions. Major financial markets like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and major forex markets tend to be highly liquid due to the significant number of buyers and sellers constantly participating in these markets.