How Liquid are Markets?: AN APPLICATION TO STOCK MARKETS

This paper summarizes the main aspects of market liquidity which is an elusive and multidimensional concept. We consider several liquidity indicators through four categories: immediacy, depth, tightness and resiliency. These classes are then illustrated for four major financial institutions hit by the ongoing financial crisis: AIG, Lehman, BNP and Dexia. We particularly insist on the non substitutability of liquidity indicators since each of them does not account for the same market characteristics