I want to translate the word speculation/speculative into my language, but I'm wondering whether it is actually a negative word because of this meaning:
investment in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.
which sounds like what a gambler is doing.
In the context of money-related things, it does contain some inherent risk. It doesn't carry a negative meaning per se, but can be given it in context. For example, it would have a negative connotation here:
The financial crisis was attributed primarily to speculation on property and stocks.
That sentence implies some degree of culpability on the part of spectulators, who might be seen as greedy, foolhardy etc.
But you can also speculate on other things, such as what the weather will be like later in the day, and there's no negative connotation there.
