An asset is an economic resource that can be owned or controlled with the expectation of generating a profit or future benefits. It refers to anything that you own and anticipate will either save you money or generate income in the future.
An asset can be owned by either an individual or an organization and represents the value of ownership that can be converted into cash. In trading, the term "asset" is used to refer to what is being exchanged on markets, including stocks, bonds, currencies, or commodities. These types of assets are commonly referred to as "financial assets".