The only safe haven?

Now that there is a possibility of a double dip recession worldwide many questions start to arise. Unfortunately I wasn't watching the market during 2008/09 and there are certain things that I'm not sure I understand correctly. For example, in 2008 lots of capital flowed out of equities to find safe heaven but not in gold. Was it because treasuries were more attractive at that time? Then when the Fed lowered interest rates to <25% gold started to rise and is still going up. Apparently with current rates near zero and negative real yields gold is more attractive and if the stock market plunges all these funds are going into gold, yen and CHF.

I'm also curious what other measures SNB and BOJ can do to prevent further currency appreciations. Tax foreign bond buyers? If that happens then gold will be the only safe heaven left. Maybe real estate?

First of all, I thought it's called safe haven not safe heaven.

If what you state is correct, then I also don't know why capital didn't flow directly into gold. Maybe at that time people were not concerned about losing their money. I think right now people go into gold cause of the yield and protection of money. There are a lot of people that think that the countries will go bust, then the euro / usd will be worthless.

It all depends what will happen worldwide, I think if major economies fail, then also switzerland and japan might be affected.

Don't know about international tax law, but I think taxing foreign bond buyers is not allowed by the international tax treaties (but not sure about that).
Well, don't know where real estate should be a safe option. Imagine economies failing, thousands of people becoming unemployed needing cash fast. What will they do? Sell their properties (among other things). Now if you have thousands of houses for sale, the price of real estate will drop so fast, that you can only sell for a huge loss.
Real estate is definitely not a safe haven, when the worst happens.
I can only think of gold and silver being real safe havens. Also, if fiat currencies reall become worthless, you can always pay with gold.

My apologies, English is not my native language.
People are always concerned about losing their money. Or I'd say capitals tend to flow into higher yielding assets adjusted for risk. This is the ultimate long term driver of currency movements.
That's what Brazil has done to curb real appreciation.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...s-advance.html

Regarding real estate, this is just my crazy idea. But capitals will have to be parked somewhere and there are not many options left.