Bonds can be described as what type of investment?

Bonds are best described as a debt investment where money is loaned to an entity, such as a government or corporation. When investors purchase a bond, they effectively lend money to the issuer of the bond in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the bond's face value at maturity. This represents a contractual obligation for the issuer to repay the principal along with interest, making it a fixed-income investment. The investor's return is predictable, as the interest rate is typically set when the bond is issued.

In contrast, the other options describe different types of investments. Equity investments involve purchasing shares in a company, which carries higher risk due to market volatility and the potential for loss. Short-term investments with guaranteed returns are often associated with instruments like savings accounts or certificates of deposit, rather than bonds, which are generally considered more stable but not guaranteed. Finally, investing in real estate properties refers to the direct ownership of physical assets, which has a different risk and return profile compared to bonds. Thus, option B accurately captures the essence of what bonds are in the context of investment.