What makes an investment speculative?

An investment is considered speculative when it entails risk with the hope of financial rewards. Speculative investments often involve uncertainty and are typically characterized by a potential for significant gains or losses. Investors engage in speculative investments in anticipation of market movements that could yield substantial returns, but the inherent risk means that the actual outcome can vary widely.

In contrast to more traditional investments that may provide guaranteed returns or stable growth, speculative investments are influenced by market trends, investor behavior, and external factors, making them unpredictable. This expectation of high reward in exchange for high risk is what fundamentally differentiates a speculative investment from more secure, stable options.