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Investors Seek Safe Havens in Asia Ahead of U.S. Election

As the U.S. election approaches, investors are selling yen and moving into cash, Indian assets, select parts of China’s markets, and Singapore dollars, anticipating shifts in global financial flows. Asia’s markets are poised for volatility based on the election outcome, prompting fund managers to reduce exposure to vulnerabilities in Japanese manufacturing and Hong Kong stocks while exploring opportunities in more stable regions.

“We actually view China as a decent place to hide,” said Jon Withaar, manager of an Asia special situations hedge fund at Pictet Asset Management. He noted that China has strong domestic drivers and a lower correlation with global market movements. “The best thing for us to do is just sit on the sidelines and wait,” he added.

With the November 5 election approaching, betting odds favour Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris, leading to market reactions like selling U.S. bonds and buying dollars. In Asia, the low-yielding yen is being sold off against the dollar. Nick Ferres, chief investment officer at Vantage Point Asset Management, remarked, “We sense that Donald is going to win, and it might even be a Republican sweep.” He added that “the implication for the dollar is Trump is probably a bit more pro-growth.”

The yen has dropped 6.5% against the dollar through October, marking the largest decline of any G10 currency.

Investors are targeting markets less exposed to tariff risks and buoyed by demographic trends and China’s expected stimulus initiatives. Ray Sharma-Ong of ABRDN stated, “The Singapore dollar would stand tall against regional currencies,” while Indian stocks may offer insulation due to strong domestic growth and a low export-to-GDP ratio. 

John Hempton, founder of Bronte Capital, expressed uncertainty: “I honestly don’t know what Trump can achieve. If I genuinely don’t know what I’m doing, then I just try and stay out of the way – try to minimize the damage.”

Goldman Sachs has noted increased exposure to China and North Asia among emerging market funds, which could accelerate after the election. “We see emerging markets equities to be well placed to outperform next year regardless of the outcome,” said Gary Tan, portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments, highlighting potential benefits from a Harris win.

Bitcoin Surges 23% In A Week As Investor Optimism Returns

Bitcoin was on track for a weekly gain of around 23% on Friday as a series of positive macroeconomic and policy developments boosted investor sentiment.

The cryptocurrency was trading about 6% higher at roughly $77,000, up from around $62,800 at the start of the week. Crypto-related stocks also rallied, with Coinbase and Circle gaining more than 9%, while Strategy rose 7%.

Macro Factors Fuel Rally

Bitcoin’s latest surge began Wednesday after Treasury yields fell sharply following a major intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the bond market. Lower yields eased pressure on risk assets and helped trigger a broader move into cryptocurrencies.

The rally was further amplified by a major short squeeze. Around $2.7 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass.

Max Stuedlein, head of Partnerships at Sygnum APAC, said the move reflected an alignment of macroeconomic and policy catalysts, including the Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt.

Clarity Act Boosts Sentiment

Investor confidence improved further on Thursday as the White House and crypto industry leaders made a final push to advance the Clarity Act in the coming weeks.

The legislation is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for the crypto market, although its chances of passing remain relatively limited.

Despite the rally, bitcoin remains well below its 2026 high of $94,820 reached in January and its all-time high of $126,198, set last October.

Analysts See More Volatility Ahead

Lucy Gazmararian, founder and managing partner at Token Bay Capital, said the crypto market may be approaching the end of its bear cycle.

She expects bitcoin could experience one more decline of around 20% before the market turns, pointing to historical cycles and the recent liquidation of heavily leveraged short positions.

Gazmararian also described bitcoin as a long-term hedge against monetary debasement, while warning that its short-term price remains highly volatile and driven by market cycles.

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