"Investment securities can be classified as either 'Hold to Maturity', 'Available for Sales', or 'Trade'.

"Investment securities can be classified as either 'Hold to Maturity', 'Available for Sales', or 'Trade'. The specific classification depends on the company's ability to do as it wishes and its intention to do what it states. However, should this be the sole criteria to be used in classifying investment securities? Why should investment securities even be separated into different classifications, why not just treat them all the same, then you would not have to worry about it's ability or intention?