Investing in coins, stamps, timber and land...

When equity markets yo-yo, the housing market grinds to a halt, banks buckle and commodities crash, it is tempting simply to bail out of everything and hold your cash in a bag under the floorboards. But if you are looking for less extreme responses to the economic crisis, there's a strong argument for diversifying a chunk of your portfolio into assets with low correlation to other beleaguered sectors.

We have rounded up six options at different entry levels. Some are designed specifically to take advantage of weak markets, others play on enduring trends, such as global food demand or the international shift to sustainable wood sources, while others are simply less widely recognised as investment vehicles.

Of course, many alternative investments are relatively high risk, and they are not necessarily protected by Financial Services Authority regulations, so it is important to understand exactly what you are taking on before you part with your money. . .

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