Asset Class

一个对投资的归类，比如股票，债券，现金和商品。这四个类别的任意一种都趋向于以类似的形式产生风险（如利率升高）并受制于同样的监管要求。

A specific grouping of investments, such as stocks (equity), bonds (debt), cash (currency) and commodities. The investments in each of the four groups tend to react to risk (such as a rise in interest rates) in a similar way and are governed by the same regulatory requirements.

A group of securities that exhibit similar characteristics, behave similarly in the marketplace, and are subject to the same laws and regulations. The three main asset classes are equities (stocks), fixed-income (bonds) and cash equivalents (money market instruments).

It should be noted that in addition to the three main asset classes, some investment professionals would add real estate and commodities, and possibly other types of investments, to the asset class mix. Whatever the asset class lineup, each one is expected to reflect different risk and return investment characteristics, and will perform differently in any given market environment.

Asset classes and asset class categories are often mixed together. In other words, describing large-cap stocks or short-term bonds asset classes is incorrect. These investment vehicles are asset class categories, and are used for diversification purposes.