In the fast-paced world of finance, an investor’s fortune can change in the blink of an eye. Yet, the concept that “cash is king” remains unwaveringly true.
As a by-product of decades of market wisdom, this expression encapsulates the unparalleled value of liquidity in both times of prosperity and adversity.
The impact of holding cash reserves is remarkable, not just as a safeguard against market volatility, but as a strategic advantage that can lead to seizing lucrative opportunities.
As someone who advocates for investors to diversify their portfolios with strategic investments, the fact that having sufficient cash on hand is a necessary part of this equation can sometimes be a message that is often overlooked.
With that said, in this era of complex financial instruments and ever-evolving strategies, the wisdom of keeping a portion of one’s portfolio in cash remains as relevant as ever.
Historical proof
Throughout history, countless examples highlight the pivotal role of liquidity in shaping the outcomes of individuals, corporations and even entire economies.
The financial crisis of 2008 is one of the more notable testaments that depict the power of cash.
For example, a lack of sufficient cash saw Lehman Brothers crumble, with its stock plunging 93 per cent between the close of trading on September 12 and the company subsequently filing for bankruptcy with $639 billion in assets and $619 billion in debt.
On the other hand, those with substantial cash holdings, such as Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, emerged as survivors in a sea of chaos.
His company, with its ample cash reserves, capitalised on this market turmoil by investing $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and reaping substantial rewards as markets eventually rebounded.
Many may see this as ironic, especially considering that Mr Buffet once said: “When people talk about cash being king, it’s not king if it just sits there and never does anything.”
However, when push came to shove, he and his company capitalised on down markets – thus, proving that liquidity allows investors to stay ready versus get ready.
Value beyond crises
The power of liquidity is not limited to crisis scenarios; it extends to seizing fleeting opportunities that arise in bullish markets.
Consider Apple, the tech company that is currently worth trillions of dollars after having revolutionised the smartphone industry with the iconic iPhone.
Having diligently built a war chest of cash reserves over the years, Apple has been uniquely positioned to invest heavily in research and development, fund aggressive marketing campaigns, and strategically acquire companies that complement its ecosystem.
This financial flexibility has facilitated Apple’s transformation from a computer manufacturer into a global technology juggernaut.
Beyond the corporate realm, individual investors can also leverage the power of cash.
In volatile markets, having liquid assets provides the freedom to take advantage of sudden market shifts, such as buying undervalued stocks during market panic or acquiring real estate when property values dip.
Investor George Soros famously capitalised on the 1992 Black Wednesday crisis by shorting the British pound. The pound plunged in value by about 15 per cent against the Deutsche mark and 25 per cent against the dollar.
His savvy move earned Mr Soros a $1 billion profit and cemented his status as one of the most successful investors of his time.
Extending beyond investments
Although having access to cash is useful for diversifying one’s portfolio, whether it be a corporation or investor, it is also equally important for an individual’s everyday life.
With the flexibility that cash provides, its use cases in everyday life are manifold: from creating emergency funds to shielding yourself against unforeseen financial hardships (such as job loss), to allowing one to cover essential expenses (like rent) without needing to use credit cards or loans until a new income source is secured.
The notion that cash is king is comprehensive and undeniably covers all facets of life.
Consider a regular professional who diligently saves and maintains an emergency fund. When an unforeseen medical crisis strikes due to a car accident, their preparedness showcases the real-life significance of “cash is king”.
Despite health insurance coverage, unexpected out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment and car repairs will surface.
However, thanks to the individual’s cash reserves, they can swiftly cover these costs without resorting to credit card debt or borrowing, preserving financial autonomy and peace of mind.
From market crashes to economic upturns, from corporate giants to individual investors, the wisdom of “cash is king” remains an invaluable guiding principle
Bas Kooijman,
chief executive, DHF Capital
The foundation of success
In a world where sophisticated financial instruments and strategies dominate headlines, the simple act of holding cash often goes overlooked.
Yet, as history has demonstrated repeatedly, liquidity offers a competitive edge that transcends the complexities of the financial landscape.
From market crashes to economic upturns, from corporate giants to individual investors, the wisdom of “cash is king” remains an invaluable guiding principle.
While the allure of high-risk, high-reward ventures may dazzle, the foundation of any successful portfolio lies in its ability to withstand turbulence and seize unforeseen opportunities.
This is why I implore investors to maintain a prudent allocation of cash, so that they can harness the power of liquidity to navigate uncertainty, capitalise on market dislocations and ultimately secure their financial well-being in an ever-changing world.
In the end, in the realm of finance, as in life, having a strong cash position remains a fundamental cornerstone of success.
Bas Kooijman is chief executive and asset manager of DHF Capital, a securitisation company for financial services
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
The five pillars of Islam
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
CREW
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
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SPEC%20SHEET
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
