Asset Class

An asset class (also asset class; from the English "asset" = investment or investment sector) is a classification of assets within the capital market. Financial instruments are grouped together that have similar characteristics and therefore behave similarly on the market.

For this purpose, return and risk factors are used, among others, but also institutional characteristics, statistical deviations of returns, risk level and historical development.

Typical asset classes are:

  • Interest on bank accounts (call money, time deposit, savings account, ...)

  • Shares and securities

  • Precious metals (e.g. gold)

  • Crowdlending (also P2P lending)

  • Investment in companies (e.g. through crowdinvesting)

  • Real estate 

  • Property, plant and equipment

Show all entries