these are the safe-haven plays for the 2026 market. Investors are increasingly shifting their money out of equities and into short-term instruments, especially ultra-short bond funds,
amid growing worries about a possible stock market downturn. Bank deposits are currently offering next to no yield, while long-term bonds have delivered negative returns and significant volatility, pushing investors to hunt for safer alternatives.
Ultra-short bond funds are gaining traction, pulling in $12.8 billion in new inflows during July, as they provide slightly better returns than money market funds while keeping risk levels manageable.