What do you call the desire to buy assets for potential capital gains?

The desire to buy assets for potential capital gains is referred to as the speculative motive. This concept is rooted in the idea that investors are often looking to purchase assets that they believe will increase in value over time, allowing them to sell these assets later at a higher price. This behavior is driven by expectations of future price movements and the potential for profit, which distinguishes speculation from other motives for holding assets, such as merely transacting or holding for security against unforeseen circumstances.

In contrast to speculation, the transaction motive refers to the desire to hold assets for everyday buying and selling purposes, while the precautionary motive is about holding assets for unexpected expenses or events. Liquidity preference relates to the demand for liquid assets, which can be quickly converted into cash without a significant loss in value, rather than the intention to benefit from capital appreciation. Hence, the speculative motive is the accurate term for the desire to invest in assets for the purpose of making a profit through capital gains.