What is a Cash Flow Statement? List any two objectives of preparing the statement.

"Cash flow" is one of the most vital elements in the survival of a business. It can be positive, or negative, which is obviously a most undesirable situation. The chapter develops the concept of cash flow and then shows how the funds can be used in the business. Funds are not only generated internally; they may be externally generated, and so the chapter finishes with a discussion of externally generated funds.

The objectives of a cash flow statement should be to assist users:

· to assess the company's ability to generate positive cash flows in the future
· to assess its ability to meet its obligations to service loans, pay dividends etc
· to assess the reasons for differences between reported and related cash flows
· to assess the effect on its finances of major transactions in the year.