Prosperous clients are forsaking U.S. dollar assets and pivoting towards gold and cryptocurrencies, as per UBS.

Prosperous clients are forsaking U.S. dollar assets and pivoting towards gold and cryptocurrencies, as per UBS.

High-rolling investors are ditching the greenback for gold and gritty crypto as global economies feel the heat from trade tensions.

A gossip scandal from Chinese media Cailian News has Amy Lo, co-head of UBS Group's Asian Wealth Management, spilling the tea on wealthy investors who are gravitating towards alternatives, like gold and cryptocurrencies, and Chinese assets more than ever.

Lo said these alternative assets are leaping in popularity due to the economic chaos sparked by Trump's relentless trade tariffs. "Gold is shining bright now," Lo told Yvonne Man during Bloomberg New Voices event in Hong Kong last May 13.

Lo also revealed that UBS investors have lost faith in the US dollar, treasuries, bonds, and other dollar-backed assets because of unending economic uncertainty. Instead, they're on a treasure hunt for safer, tension-free investments.

Recent data shows the Chinese yuan outshining the mighty dollar, especially in early to mid-May 2025. Reuters details how the yuan soared to a six-month high of 7.2169 per dollar on May 6 and tightened further to 7.201 per dollar by May 13. On the other hand, the U.S. Dollar Index fell from its peak of 101.79 near the same period down to 100.63 by May 14, reflecting a 0.37% slump.

Bitcoin's value hit the roof, racing past the $105,000 mark following the U.S. and China's agreement on a 90-day truce on high tariffs in April. Meanwhile, gold hit an unprecedented high of $3,390 last April amidst geopolitical mess.

In response to economic instability, it seems that high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are moving away from traditional US assets, gaming for alternative investments like private equity, as suggested by Boston Consulting Group and iCapital's report. UBS investors are following this trend, shifting their focus from a once US-centric portfolio to a more diversified one.

However, data directly linking shifts into gold, crypto, or Chinese assets is scarce. Nevertheless, wealth managers are increasingly expected to guide clients in maximizing their investments amidst rough times.

1. The shift in investing trends is evident as high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are now gravitating towards alternatives such as gold, cryptocurrencies, and Chinese assets, abandoning traditional US assets due to economic instability.
2. Amy Lo, co-head of UBS Group's Asian Wealth Management, reveals that investors have lost faith in the US dollar, treasuries, bonds, and other dollar-backed assets because of unending economic uncertainty.
3. In response to the economic chaos sparked by trade tensions, these investors are on a treasure hunt for safer, tension-free investments, with gold and cryptocurrencies becoming increasingly popular.
4. Recent events have seen the value of Bitcoin soaring past the $105,000 mark and gold hitting an unprecedented high of $3,390, following the U.S. and China's agreement on a 90-day truce on high tariffs.
5. As economic tensions mount, wealth managers are expected to play a crucial role in guiding clients in maximizing their investments, with alternatives like private equity, cryptocurrencies, and Chinese assets becoming increasingly relevant in a diversified portfolio.

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