Investment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics, related to saving or deferring consumption. An asset is usually purchased, or equivalently a deposit is made in a bank, in hopes of getting a future return or interest from it. Literally, the word means the "action of putting something in to somewhere else" (perhaps originally related to a person's garment or 'vestment').

Types of investment

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The major difference in the use of the term investment in economics and finance is that economists are usually referring to a real investment - such as a machine or a house - but financial economists usually refer to a financial asset - money that is put into a bank or the market - which may then be used to buy a real asset.

Economics

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Latest financial news - CNNMoney.com

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Standard Newswire: Financial

Pence Returns to Capitol Hill After Energy Town Hall Meetings in Indiana as Protest Continues
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:21:08 -0400
"From the floor of Congress, to the farm fields of Indiana, I have heard from everyday Americans and they are with us...they think this Congress should go back to work."   Contact: Matt Lloyd, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, press office, 202-226-4379   WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 /Standard Newswire/ -- After hosting two days of energy town hall meetings in Indiana, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence returned to Washington today to continue the floor protest he helped be Source: Standard Newswire
John McCain 2008 Launches New TV Ad: 'Broken'
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:57:18 -0400
Contact: Press Office, 703-650-5550; www.JohnMcCain.com ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 5 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its latest television ad, entitled "Broken." The ad highlights John McCain's record of taking on the special interests in Washington. The ad will air in key states. VIEW THE AD HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylJkmMR8Fek Script For "Broken" (TV :60) ANNCR: Washington's broken. John McCa Source: John McCain 2008
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Contact: Press Office, 703-650-5550; www.JohnMcCain.com ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 5 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign issued the following statement from McCain 2008 Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker in defense of Barack Obama's energy positions: "Senator Obama's stance on offshore oil drilling has been mischaracterized. He has not changed his position. He has continually campaigned against additional drilling, calling the policy a Source: John McCain 2008

SmartMoney.com

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Fool.co.uk - Headlines

15 Magnificent Mortgage Deals
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The Financial Page

The Cross-eyed Queen
Rebecca Mead Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000
In May, a tiny, exquisite volume went on display at the Morgan Library & Museum: a prayer book made for Queen Claude of France, who was born in the penultimate year of the fifteenth century. Claude, a near-contemporary of Anne Boleyn, who served her at the French court as a . . .
Sponsoring Recklessness
James Surowiecki Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000
When do the words “not guaranteed” actually mean “guaranteed”? Whenever the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are involved. The two companies have long been required to tell investors that their securities are not guaranteed by the federal government. But in the financial markets everyone has always assumed that . . .
Oily Speculations
James Surowiecki Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 -0000
When bad things happen, it’s always nice to have a scapegoat. So, with Americans furious about soaring oil prices, Congress has gone in search of someone to blame. There are a number of usual suspects to choose from, depending on your politics--OPEC, greedy oil companies, lily-livered environmentalists opposed . . .

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