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Are safe havens really safe?

Created:
10 October 2008
Written by:
Investors Chronicle

With the headline stock market indices suffering more hefty falls this week, investors around the world have been rushing to put their money into safe havens. The usual suspects have been popular, with gold, bonds and cash savings accounts all being among the beneficiaries.

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Structured products, which offer some protection from falling stock markets, have also been attracting attention. But how safe are these so-called safe havens? Cash should be secure enough, but people who put their money into Icesave, the internet bank whose parent Landsbanki went into receivership this week, might beg to differ. Here we run the rule over five safe-haven asset classes and reveal which ones are the really attractive homes for your money. You will need to be an IC Advantage to read the last two articles, for a free, no obligation trial to IC Advantage, click here.

■ Cash as a safe haven

■ Structured products

■ Gold

■ Shares

■ Bonds

Read more cover features here.

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