{
  "id": 15699138,
  "title": "How safe havens stack up as tech, energy and France fears grip markets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/how-safe-havens-stack-up-as-tech-energy-and-france-fears-grip-markets",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-20T04:06:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/how-safe-havens-stack-up-tech-energy-and-france-fears-grip-markets-6474496"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent times, investors have been flocking to safe-haven assets amid a rise in concerns over AI, the Iran conflict, and high government debt levels. However, traditional safe havens such as gold and government bonds have not outperformed expectations this year. Gold faced a sell-off following the onset of the Iran war, while government bonds have become volatile. The US dollar has emerged as a popular safe haven, rallying 4% since the Iran war began, driven by factors such as a strong economy, higher rates, and the US's energy-exporting capability. Despite concerns about its long-term safety, the dollar could be nearing the end of a bull market, according to Societe Generale chief FX strategist Kit Juckes. In Europe, the Swiss franc has gained traction as a safe haven, especially when Europe experiences instability. German government bonds have also shown resilience, outperforming other major economies' bonds despite fiscal concerns. Short-dated government bonds offer a more stable option due to their lower sensitivity to debt worries. Gold, another traditional safe haven, has experienced fluctuations, with a rally in August driven by concerns over inflation and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Safe havens like gold and bonds underperformed in 2023 amid AI, Iran conflict fears",
    "US dollar rallies 4% since Iran war, driven by strong economy and high rates",
    "Swiss franc gains traction in Europe during instability, German bonds resilient"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The shifting preference for the US dollar over traditional gold and bond holdings signals a fundamental realignment of how investors seek stability during periods of geopolitical and fiscal uncertainty.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "How safe havens stack up as tech, energy and France fears grip markets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/how-safe-havens-stack-up-as-tech-energy-and-france-fears-grip-markets-15702092",
        "published": "2026-10-20T04:06:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "How safe havens stack up as tech, energy and France fears grip markets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/how-safe-havens-stack-up-as-tech-energy-and-france-fears-grip-markets-15700467",
        "published": "2026-10-20T04:18:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to slide as oil pressures and France turmoil rocks markets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ftse-100-live-stocks-to-slide-as-oil-pressures-and-france-turmoil",
        "published": "2026-10-20T05:27:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}