The importance of managing cash in hand Cash is considered an idle asset because it does not earn interest. Good financial management requires a firm to hold a limited amount of cash, but it is important for the firm to hold sufficient cash so that it can pay its current obligations, maintain its credit rating, and meet its unexpected cash needs. The following statement refers to a type of cash balance. Select the best type of cash balance to complete the sentence: A cash balance is held to allow firms to take advantage of any bargain purchases that might arise. Consider the following case of Columbus Builders Inc.: Imagine that Columbus Builders Inc. is a manufacturing company. Columbus’s board is looking to expand through acquisition and would like to be able to react quickly if an opportunity presents itself. Columbus’s financial managers are making sure that cash is available to use as a down payment to commit to a purchase in the near future. What type of cash balance is this? Precautionary Speculative Compensating Transactions