The tightening in the American presidential race has deepened investor nervousness and sent shivers through financial markets, causing the longest US stock market slide in five years and sparking a grab for safer assets like gold and US government debt. As expected, there are still some investors buying shares from banks, like the Lloyds shares, as well as other shares too but investors are far more cautious now.

Brexit has lingered as a cautionary tale throughout the campaign season since investors were similarly confident of a UK vote to remain in the EU and were taken by surprise when Leave won, sending sterling down sharply against all major currencies.

The S&P 500 declined for a seventh straight day on Wednesday, its longest losing streak since the eurozone crisis in 2011, and the gauge is heading for its lowest closing level since July 7. This hasn’t deterred many from looking at a robinhood app review (or at other ways to enter the market) to take advantage of this dip in the market. After all, low prices can often be solid future investments for many daring individuals looking to try their luck with the markets.

European and Asian stock markets also shuddered lower, but defensive investments like gold and US Treasuries rallied strongly as fund managers sought refuge from the uncertainty. Many have shifted towards these old favorites, as well as going into the new crypto markets (with many asking “is Coinspot safe” amongst other questions at this time). The precious metal gained more than 1 per cent and crossed the $1,300 an ounce threshold for the first time since early October, while the 10-year US Treasury yield flirted with the 1.8 per cent level again.