A substantial number of the world’s wealthiest people have moved their money out of stocks and bonds and into cash, the head of HSBC’s Swiss private banking unit said on Monday.

“The first half of 2008 has seen a notable change in client expectations and investment choices,” said Peter Braunwalder, chief executive of HSBC Private Bank (Suisse), the British-based bank’s main affiliate catering to the ultra-rich.

“Faced with inflation worries, volatile asset prices and sudden changes in exchange rates, a majority of investors have reduced their transaction volumes in equities, bonds, and structured products,” he told a news briefing in Geneva.

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/many-wealthy-investors-shift-to-cash-hsbc-says/