If ever there was a time that underscored the efficacy of building a diversified portfolio, it would be now. Stock prices are all over the place, as market participants unsuccessfully respond to the impact of COVID 19 on the world economy and its stock markets. I say “unsuccessfully” only because this is an evolving situation and the extent of its impact on economic growth and stability is uncertain. While the impact is not easily measurable, it is for sure that businesses are facing a recession of sorts in the near future. In an attempt to help businesses stay afloat in these turbulent times, certain Central Banks’ across the globe have reduced interest rates. In response to a fall in interest rates, bond prices have been going up. So, in the current scenario, while equity prices are going down, bond prices are going up. An investor who is disproportionately skewed towards equities would definitely be feeling the burn right now. On the other hand, investors who have created well-diversified portfolios that are spread across equity and fixed income instruments are likely to emerge relatively unscathed from the current turmoil. This makes a strong case for portfolio diversification.