Market-linked GICs are a sort of hybrid investment vehicle: part GIC, part stock market investment. A portion of the money you invest is used to guarantee the initial principal at maturity — it is a fixed income investment. Another portion of the amount invested is invested in the stock market. This can be linked to economic sectors or geographic regions. Market-linked GICs usually have a theme to them, such as focusing on an industry, exclusively national, international, emerging-market stocks, or more recently, responsible investing.