In: Finance
A decrease in which one of the following accounts increases a firm's current ratio as well as its quick ratio?
A. Accounts payable
B. Cash
C. Accounts receivable
D. Inventory
E. Fixed assets
Current ratio = current assets / current liabilities
Current ratio can be increased either by increase in current assets or by decrease in current liabilities.
Quick ratio = Liquid assets / current liabilities
Quick ratio can be increased either by increase in liquid assets or by decrease in current liabilities.
Hence answer is Option A- Accounts payable [being a current liability decrease in accounts payable increase current ratio as well as quick ratio]
Suppose Cash = 10000, debtors = 20000, inventory = 40000 and account payable = 10000
Current Ratio = Current assets / current liabilities = 10000+20000+40000/10000 = 7 times
Quick ratio = Liquid assets / current liabilities = 10000+20000/10000 = 3 times
Suppose accounts payable reduce by 5000 then
Current Ratio = Current assets / current liabilities = 10000+20000+40000/5000 = 14 times
Quick ratio = Liquid assets / current liabilities = 10000+20000/5000 = 6 times
So reduction in accounts payable resulted in increase in current ratio from 7 to 14 and increase in quick ratio from 3 to 6 times.