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Are safe haven assets really safe during the 2008 global financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic?

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  • Hasan, Md. Bokhtiar
  • Hassan, M. Kabir
  • Rashid, Md. Mamunur
  • Alhenawi, Yasser

Abstract

This study evaluates the safe-haven role of twelve assets against the US stock market during the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that silver and the Islamic stock index were safe havens during the 2008 GFC, and the Islamic stock index and Tether have been safe havens during COVID-19. We observe that the Islamic stock index and Tether have emerged as strong new safe havens. However, our supplementary analysis reveals that gold and Bitcoin still exhibit safe-haven behavior during severe market downturns. Overall, our findings suggest that safe-haven assets may vary over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Hasan, Md. Bokhtiar & Hassan, M. Kabir & Rashid, Md. Mamunur & Alhenawi, Yasser, 2021. "Are safe haven assets really safe during the 2008 global financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:glofin:v:50:y:2021:i:c:s1044028321000661
    DOI: 10.1016/j.gfj.2021.100668
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; 2008 GFC; Hedge; Safe haven; US stock market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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