Investments involve taking risks and potentially earning more than when you put your money in a savings account. However, there are multiple considerations, like market movement and current events. Investors want their portfolios to grow over time, so experts wish to safeguard their assets with those that can withstand various conditions.
According to the Helprin Management Tokyo Japan review, there are still those that you can consider safe havens or strong fortresses. This post will discuss safe haven as a concept, what it means for investors and their money, and how it helps in the long term.
What is a Safe Haven?
A safe haven is an investment expected to increase or retain its value during turbulent markets. Most investors look for safe havens to limit their losses during downturns. Helprin Management Tokyo Japan has financial advisors that have mastered the art of finding stable investments.
Investors must perform due diligence to look for products or assets considered safe havens. They will improve portfolio performance during times when markets are unpredictable and unstable.
Safe Haven Examples
Now that you know about them, you need to understand the types of investments experts consider safe havens against market volatility, downturns, and turmoil that provide investment stability. Safe havens protect your portfolio from market downswings.
These are some of the assets considered safe havens:
Cash
Although cash is technically not an investment asset, people consider it a haven, especially when the market is facing a downturn. However, inflation can negatively impact cash, offering no actual yield or return. Unlike other investments with changing worths, cash retains its initial value.
Currencies
Some currencies are more stable than others, and investors may convert their cash into specific currencies for protection during uncertain times. Keeping some of them on standby is essential to buffer your portfolio from too much market movement.
These are some of the safe haven currencies that can survive various market conditions:
- Swiss Franc is safe due to the Swiss government and its financial system’s stability. The country is also independent of the European Union, immune to adverse economic and political events.
- United States Dollar is the world’s default reserve currency and is more robust against higher-yielding currencies. The USD thrives in times of instability.
- Japanese Yen indicates a risk-off sentiment because if it is more potent than higher-yielding currencies, it would mean markets are not pleased with recent economic news or data, especially those related to the United States.
Include these currencies in your portfolio for better stability in case of market crashes.
Gold
One of the safest investments has been gold because it’s a physical commodity that people can’t print, unlike money. Government interest rates and economic states don’t affect its value. Due to gold’s consistent value, it acts as insurance against adverse financial events.
Treasury Bills (T-Bills)
T-bills are short-term United States debt obligations with a maturity of under a year backed by the Treasury Department. These debt securities have the credit and full faith of the US government, so they are considered stable and risk-free even in turbulent economic climates. The government repays the invested principal when the bill matures, so investors turn to them during anticipated economic chaos.
Defensive Stocks
You should include defensive stocks in your portfolio, which provides stable earnings and consistent dividends despite the stock market’s overall state. Established companies like Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris International, Johnson & Johnson, and other companies have products in constant demand, so their stocks are steady all year round. This term is not synonymous with defense stocks related to companies manufacturing ammunition, fighter jets, and weapons.
Defensive stocks, including biotechnology, healthcare, consumer goods, and utility companies, are in consistent demand despite market conditions. Consumers will always need basic home supplies, utilities, food, and health products regardless of economic status. Therefore, they are more likely to retain their value during uncertain times.
Special Considerations
All the listed assets don’t guarantee retention of their values during volatile market periods, and it’s also important to understand that safe haven qualifications change over time. Consider this scenario wherein a whole economic sector is performing poorly, yet a company is doing well; you may regard that company’s stock as a safe haven.
However, it would help if you also considered that safe havens don’t drag down and don’t rise as fast when the markets are doing well. Therefore, you should still diversify among safe havens and other asset types.
Final Thoughts
Assets have a high chance of gain, especially when you do a lot of research and put your money in safe havens. Of course, companies like Helprin Management Tokyo Japan can help you make those kinds of decisions if you need the technical knowledge of investment experts. Ensure that your portfolio converges low-risk safe haven investments and high-performing assets to combine profitability with stability.
