World's rich put a third of funds into cash as trade war simmers

The poll was conducted between March 10-28 across 17 countries

Wealthy investors around the world are holding a relatively high level of cash, and perhaps they’ve become too cautious, according to UBS Group AG.

The world’s largest wealth manager said 32 per cent of high-net-worth portfolios are in cash, in a survey released May 7. In Asia and Latin America, the portion was 36 per cent, compared with 31 per cent in Switzerland and 35 per cent in the rest of Europe. The outlier: the U.S., at just 23 per cent.

“Cash is a safe asset for a liquidity strategy but a risky one for longevity,” Paula Polito, client strategy officer at