A firm’s cash flows can be divided into cash flow from: (1) operating activities (2) investment activities, and (3) financing activities. The operation activity cash flows are cash flows--inflows and outflows--directly related to origination and sale of the financial firm's assets and to operating costs such as general market activities, security trading activities, interest received and foreclosed collateral. Investment activity cash flows are cash flows and financial investments. Clearly, purchase transactions would result in cash outflows whereas sales transaction would generate cash inflows. The financing activity cash flows result from debt and equity financing transactions. Borrowing and repaying either short - term debt or long - term debt would result in a corresponding cash inflow or outflow. Similarly, the sale of common or preferred stock would result in a cash inflow whereas the repurchase of stock or payment of cash dividends would result in a financing outflow. Summarizing the firm's operating, investment, and financing activity cash flows during a given period helps to account for changes in the firm's cash position from the beginning to the end of the period chosen. Managing cash is a very important activity for financial intermediaries. The cash flow statement provides the basics structure of all sources and uses of cash. The statement of cash flow helps to explain the change in ______.