The 2008 Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 Pandemic: How Safe are the Safe Haven Assets?
42 Pages Posted: 3 May 2020 Last revised: 6 Feb 2022
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The 2008 Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 Pandemic: How Safe are the Safe Haven Assets?
The 2008 Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 Pandemic: How Safe are the Safe Haven Assets?
Date Written: January 30, 2022
Abstract
We compare the performance of safe-haven assets during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and COVID-19 pandemic. First, regarding the GFC, we find, intermediate (weak) safe haven evidence for US dollar, Swiss franc and T-bonds (Gold, Silver and T-bills). Second, with regard to COVID, we find gold is very risky in some settings, while silver has become extremely risky. Collectively, our findings suggest that the character of safe-haven assets has changed between the crises. Therefore, investors should exercise extreme care when investing in potential safe-haven assets during times of market stress.
Keywords: COVID-19; 2008 GFC; safe haven assets
JEL Classification: D8, G01, G10, G11, G14, G14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation