In: Finance
What is liquidity premium theory about interest rate? Can it be used to explain the downward-sloping yield curve?
A major concept used in investment in bonds is liquidity premium theory of interest rate. This theory helps to understand the yield curve which is made up of different interest rates with different maturities.
This theory is majorly used in the area where the sale of bond can be done as soon as possible without compromising specified bond price.
According to liquidity premium theory, investor always seek for the short-term asset which can be sold in short period of time over long term assets.
Liquidity premium theory also argues that compensation to the investor must be available against risk of changes in price because of change in interest rate.
Yield curve represents the combination of different interest rates with different maturity time periods. Downward sloping yield curve represents that investor believes that interest rate will fall in future. As a result, today investor starts investing more in short term assets to get higher yields.