LiquidityPlus

Stock market liquidity is crucial to stock market returns because it determines how easily investors can buy and sell shares in a company. When a market is liquid, it means that there are many buyers and sellers, and the prices at which they are willing to trade are close to each other. This makes it easy for investors to buy and sell shares, which can lead to more efficient pricing and potentially better returns. 

Imagine a lake as the stock market and the water level as the level of liquidity. When the water level is high, just like a liquid market, it is much easier for boats, or investments, to float and navigate. In this scenario, it's easier for investors to pick potentially winning investments because there is more visibility and the market conditions are favorable. However, when the water level is low, just like an illiquid market, it's much more difficult for boats to navigate and stay afloat. It's harder for investors to pick winning investments as the market conditions are not favorable, and it may be better to be defensive and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

In a low water level scenario, only a few boats can navigate and the prices of the boats might be different from the real value. It's like in an illiquid market where the prices can be far away from the real value of the underlying company. Investors have to be more cautious and selective in their investments, as the market conditions are not favorable and the risk of losing money is higher.