Working capital is essential for businesses to maintain smooth operations, ensuring they have enough assets to cover their short-term liabilities. A positive working capital indicates financial health and operational efficiency, while negative working capital could signal liquidity challenges. It is a crucial metric for assessing a company's ability to sustain day-to-day operations, manage cash flow effectively, and respond to short-term financial obligations. Investors and traders monitor working capital to evaluate a company’s short-term financial stability and potential for growth.