During a severe stock market crash or economic downturn, investors typically seek safe-haven assets that historically preserve capital, hedge against volatility, and provide stable liquidity. United States Treasury bonds and bills are widely considered the gold standard of safe investments because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government, frequently rallying in price as panic drives yields down. High-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market funds offer principal protection with guaranteed short-term yields. Physical precious metals like gold also serve as traditional defensive hedges against systemic currency devaluation and market panic. Additionally, defensive equities—such as consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare stocks—tend to experience much milder drawdowns during market corrections due to inelastic consumer demand.