Examining the Economic Interaction between Liquidity and Firms’ Financial Performance: Evidence from the Ghana Stock Exchange

Abstract

This study examined the economic interaction between liquidity and financial performance of manufacturing firms listed on Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Specifically, the study sought to examine the relationship between liquidity as measured by current ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio and firms’ financial performance as measured by return as assets, return on equity and return on capital employed and determine the interactive effects on share value of firms. Data extracted from the audited and published annual reports of twenty-one (21) firms for the period 2008 to 2019 was used for the study. The study used correlation analysis for relationship and ANCOVA modeling for interactive effects. The study found that there was a weak positive statistically significant relationship between return on assets and measures of liquidity; there was a weak positive statistically insignificant relationship between return on equity and measures of liquidity; there was a weak negative statistically insignificant relationship between return on capital employed and measures of liquidity. The study also found positive effects of liquidity and performance on share value. However, the magnitude of interactive effect of liquidity and firm’s performance was much higher that the single effects. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that authorities in listed manufacturing firms in Ghana should try and maintain an ideal level of liquidity that can meet their firms’ operational needs