Which type of investment in securities must always be classified as a current asset?

A) held-to-maturity debt securities
B) available-for-sale securities
C) trading securities
D) none of the these, they may all be classified as current or long-term assets

Trading securities must always be classified as a current asset as they are held for the purpose of buying and selling in the near term and therefore are expected to be liquidated within the next year. Held-to-maturity debt securities and available-for-sale securities, on the other hand, may be classified as current or long-term assets depending on their maturity and the entity's intentions for holding them.