What can liquidity buffers help firms do during financial stress?

Liquidity buffers play a crucial role for firms during times of financial stress by acting as a reserve of easily accessible cash or liquid assets. These buffers enable firms to absorb shocks to their financial stability, which may arise from unexpected cash flow needs, market volatility, or other disruptive events. When a firm has a robust liquidity buffer, it can manage its obligations without the need to liquidate long-term investments at unfavorable prices, thus maintaining financial stability.

This capacity to absorb shocks ensures that the firm can continue operations and meet its short-term obligations, even in adverse conditions, which is essential for recovery and long-term financial health. Other options may suggest potential benefits, such as enhancing asset acquisition or increasing shareholder equity, but these do not directly address the primary function of liquidity buffers during financial distress.