Asset сlass
An Asset class represents a common group of instruments with similar characteristics, are subject to the same laws and regulations, and tend to behave similarly in different market or economic conditions. It provides information about the types of investments the ETF is focused on. There are 6 asset classes in the classification:
The fund contains only equity securities. Equity is an ownership share in a business, with rights to participate in profit distribution and trade on a public exchange.
The fund contains only fixed income securities. Fixed income is a debt issued with a specified maturity date and par value. This includes private placements, perpetual securities, convertible securities, and preferred securities.
The fund is specifically designed to track the returns available within the commodity sector. The commodity sector consists of exchange-traded physical goods or contracts regarding the physical goods.
The fund is specifically designed to track the returns available to currency investments. Currency is a medium of exchange or conduit in which two parties transact. Currency serves as a unit of account and store of value that cannot be used as another source. Cryptocurrencies are currently classified as Currency.
The fund is designed to combine assets from at least two of the following asset classes: equity, fixed income, commodities, and currency. Funds with two or more asset classes could instead appear in the Alternatives asset class if they meet the requirements below.
The fund in the Alternatives asset class may hold any type of asset. Funds in this space must distinguish themselves from single asset-class funds via any of the following methods:
- Indicating in its name that it follows a common hedge fund strategy, such as absolute return, event-driven, long/short, market neutral, and multi-strategy.
- Investing in an asset type with a distinctly different economic exposure than that of any of the primary asset classes, such as interest rate spreads.
- Providing returns tied directly to asset volatility.