Short-term investments usually applies to a group of investments that would yield its returns in less than five years, some even within a year. Thus, characteristics that would best define them are: (A) they usually last for less than a year, (B) they are considered low risk, and (E) they can include saving accounts and CDs.
The other options are incorrect because short-term investments are not recommended for retirement due to its low rate of return yield and stocks are not considered as short-term investments.