What does Liquidity Risk pertain to when discussing securities?

Liquidity risk refers to the potential difficulty an investor might face when trying to sell a security in the market without significantly affecting its price. It is a crucial concept in the realm of securities and investments because it directly impacts how easily an investor can convert their assets into cash.

When a market has high liquidity, it means that there are enough buyers and sellers that securities can be bought and sold quickly at stable prices. Conversely, if a security possesses low liquidity, it may not be easy to find a buyer, which can lead to delays in selling the asset or requiring the seller to lower the price significantly to make the sale happen.

Understanding liquidity risk is essential for investors as it informs their decisions about which securities to purchase, particularly if they may need to access their capital quickly. Factors such as trading volume, the market depth of a security, and the overall market environment can all influence liquidity, making it a key consideration in investment strategy.