In finance, what does liquidity refer to?

Liquidity in finance is primarily concerned with how quickly and easily an asset can be converted into cash without significantly affecting its market price. When an asset is highly liquid, it means that it can be sold quickly in the market without a steep discount. For instance, cash is considered the most liquid asset, while real estate is generally less liquid because selling it can take time and might require lowering the price to make a quick sale.

The other options highlight aspects of finance that, while important, do not define liquidity specifically. For example, maintaining assets without risk pertains more to asset management and risk assessment, the immediate availability of cash is related to cash flow rather than liquidity in the broader sense, and overall profitability addresses returns on investment which is separate from how easily an asset can be sold. Therefore, the correct option accurately captures the essence of liquidity in financial contexts.