The Treasury Department has reported that private investors worldwide bought a record amount of U.S. stocks, bonds, and other government securities in November, according to Bloomberg. The net-purchase of equities, bonds and notes reached $126.8bn in November, compared with $19.3bn in October.

Foreign purchases were a net $26.6bn in November, after net sales of $25.4bn the month before. Foreign Treasury note and bond sales were up drastically in November to $118.3 from $38.9bn previously. China remains the largest holder of T-notes at $790bn, which is $9.3bn lower than October, but $76.4bn higher than November 2008. The demand for U.S. securities is likely due to the global economic instability according to economists, who tend to share the view that “U.S.-based assets have always stood the test of time during periods of great uncertainty.”