Skip to main content
Back

Economic and market implications for oil prices

2 March 2026

Paul Kalogirou, Head of Client Portfolio Management, Asia & Global Multi-Asset Solutions

Recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran have renewed focus on oil prices and their potential economic and market effects. Paul Kalogirou, Head of Client Portfolio Management, Asia & Global Multi-Asset Solutions, shares latest views on it.
 

Summary:

  • Short-term market swings may increase, especially when geopolitical tensions affect oil prices, but these episodes have historically tended to be temporary rather than long‑lasting.
  • Higher oil prices may add to inflation uncertainty, which may influence interest rates and market sentiment, even if the broader economic impact remains limited.
  • Different parts of the market may react differently, with some sectors or styles moving more than others, which can make headlines feel more dramatic than the underlying long‑term impact.
  • Stay focused on long‑term goals. For long‑term investing, reacting to short‑term market volatility may do more harm than good.

 

Download full PDF

 

  • Not another bubble: How semiconductors are powering a real future

    Semiconductors sit behind almost every modern experience – from smartphones and cars to cloud computing and today’s AI tools – yet they remain largely invisible to most people. They are more than chips only, and the demand is being supported by several long-term forces. We believe that today’s semiconductor excitement is not a repeat of the dot-com bubble, as investment is tied to real infrastructure and revenue-generating services. And the opportunity is broader than a handful of headline AI names.

    Read more
  • Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy update: Risks and opportunities

    In early April, developments in the Middle East showed signs of stabilisation, prompting a partial recovery and renewed risk-taking in equity markets. However, beyond ongoing geopolitical risks, other factors—including potential private credit contagion across banks and broader financials—continue to pose downside risks. Despite these uncertainties, we believe an income centric approach, combined with global diversification across growth, value and income equities, has provided both downside resilience and upside participation for the Global Equities Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy.

    Read more
  • Global tech and semiconductors: what’s been driving returns and what to watch next

    Semiconductors have been one of the strongest parts of global equity markets so far in 2026, with performance supported by a powerful mix of demand and improving fundamentals. The headlines have focused on artificial intelligence (AI), but the opportunity set is broader than a single theme or a handful of companies. As AI infrastructure expands, it is driving investment not only in high-performance computing chips, but also in the networking and power technologies that keep modern data centres running. At the same time, parts of the industry outside AI are showing early signs of stabilisation and recovery.

    Read more
See all
  • Not another bubble: How semiconductors are powering a real future

    Semiconductors sit behind almost every modern experience – from smartphones and cars to cloud computing and today’s AI tools – yet they remain largely invisible to most people. They are more than chips only, and the demand is being supported by several long-term forces. We believe that today’s semiconductor excitement is not a repeat of the dot-com bubble, as investment is tied to real infrastructure and revenue-generating services. And the opportunity is broader than a handful of headline AI names.

    Read more
  • Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy update: Risks and opportunities

    In early April, developments in the Middle East showed signs of stabilisation, prompting a partial recovery and renewed risk-taking in equity markets. However, beyond ongoing geopolitical risks, other factors—including potential private credit contagion across banks and broader financials—continue to pose downside risks. Despite these uncertainties, we believe an income centric approach, combined with global diversification across growth, value and income equities, has provided both downside resilience and upside participation for the Global Equities Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy.

    Read more
  • Global tech and semiconductors: what’s been driving returns and what to watch next

    Semiconductors have been one of the strongest parts of global equity markets so far in 2026, with performance supported by a powerful mix of demand and improving fundamentals. The headlines have focused on artificial intelligence (AI), but the opportunity set is broader than a single theme or a handful of companies. As AI infrastructure expands, it is driving investment not only in high-performance computing chips, but also in the networking and power technologies that keep modern data centres running. At the same time, parts of the industry outside AI are showing early signs of stabilisation and recovery.

    Read more
See all