The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday, Feb. 24, edition that Morgan Stanley predicts the Swiss franc could rise up to 17 per cent against the U.S. dollar. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that Morgan analyst David Adams said that Switzerland's low inflation and fiscal soundness make the franc a strong "gold-like" safe haven currency. This could boost the franc to a lifetime high of 0.64 against the U.S. dollar in a "bear case" scenario. The currency traded about 77.6 U.S. cents on Monday. "[The Swiss franc] is an overlooked, underappreciated safe haven asset that looks set to appreciate more substantially," Mr. Adams said. The currency is the "most proven" haven asset and has the best track record of outperforming during market shocks, he added. The call comes as hedge funds are also betting on a stronger franc. Leveraged funds, which include the funds alongside other speculators, currently hold their biggest net-long position in the Swiss currency since June, according to the latest weekly CFTC data, having flipped from a net short a week earlier. Morgan Stanley expects the franc to keep gaining against other currencies and is forecasting a 5-per-cent climb to 0.87 per euro from about 0.91 currently.