2 variants of TSQL pivot tables, Sql Server

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--Sql Server 2014 Express Edition
--Batches are separated by 'go'

create table temp
(
    date datetime,
    category varchar(3),
    amount money
)

insert into temp values ('1/1/2012', 'ABC', 1000.00)
insert into temp values ('2/1/2012', 'DEF', 500.00)
insert into temp values ('2/1/2012', 'GHI', 800.00)
insert into temp values ('2/10/2012', 'DEF', 700.00)
insert into temp values ('3/1/2012', 'ABC', 1100.00)

DECLARE @cols AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
    @query  AS NVARCHAR(MAX);

SET @cols = STUFF((SELECT distinct ',' + QUOTENAME(convert(char(10), c.[date],121)) 
            FROM temp c
            FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE
            ).value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)') 
        ,1,1,'')

set @query = 'SELECT category, ' + @cols + ' from 
            (
                select convert(char(10), [date],121) [date]
                    , amount
                    , category
                from temp
           ) x
            pivot 
            (
                 sum(amount)
                for [date] in (' + @cols + ')
            ) p '

execute(@query)
go
               
DECLARE @cols AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
    @query  AS NVARCHAR(MAX);

SET @cols = STUFF((SELECT distinct ',' + QUOTENAME(c.category) 
            FROM temp c
            FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE
            ).value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)') 
        ,1,1,'')

set @query = 'SELECT convert(char(10),date,121) date, ' + @cols + ' from 
            (
                select date
                    , amount
                    , category
                from temp
           ) x
            pivot 
            (
                 max(amount)
                for category in (' + @cols + ')
            ) p '

execute(@query)
go

View schema
Execution time: 0,03 sec, rows selected: 11, rows affected: 5, absolute service time: 0,2 sec