The chief financial officer $($CFO$)$ of Tabiona Company is considering how some recently purchased investment securities should be classified for financial reporting purposes. The securities were purchased with the intent of selling the securities to realize gains arising from short$-$term changes in price.

How should these investment securities be classified?

Held$-$to$-$maturity securities

Equity method securities

Trading securities

Consolidated securities

Available$-$for$-$sale securities