(Please note this message has been transcribed for Conscious Impact Financial Planning.)
Hi. Have you been wondering: What comes next? I’d like to offer some perspective on the scary situation in Ukraine and what could happen in markets.
The current tensions in Russia, Europe, and the United States from the invasion of Ukraine has undoubtedly shaken financial exchanges globally.
There are families in Ukraine who are suffering and dying, as well as ordinary Russians who will suffer from sanctions, instability, and economic damage – including the sudden stop of certain credit cards, industries and jobs leaving, and more.
What are some possible implications for markets and OUR economy here in the USA?
Given Ukraine’s critical pipelines and Western sanctions on Russia, the crisis may lead to higher energy prices, which will trickle down to higher pump and heating fuel costs.1
Sustained price increases could hamper the Federal Reserve’s effort to control inflation, so we’re keeping an eye on that as well.
What could happen in markets? Extreme volatility, as we’ve already seen so far, is very likely. Another correction or even a bear market is definitely possible.
What does history teach us about market reactions to geopolitical shocks?
Firstly, history shows that stocks usually recover quickly from geopolitical crises. Consequently, I’ll add a disclaimer that the future doesn’t perfectly match the past — but it often rhymes.
Let’s take a look at some examples from other invasions and wars:2
Here’s the key takeaway: short-term, markets usually react badly. However, a year later, markets have historically recovered. Will they always? In every case? That’s impossible to say.
But, the larger study of 29 geopolitical events since WWII shows a general trend toward short-term losses within the first month and longer-term gains.2 “Geopolitical event” is a very antiseptic phrase for things like bombings, wars, invasions, and other horrific attacks. It really fails to encompass the full cost in human misery.
The bottom line is that we never know what happens next in these situations. We can hope, pray, donate, and speak out.
And we can focus on what’s in our control: Ourselves, our actions and reactions, and our strategies for uncertain times.
Looking ahead, we can expect more volatility, more down days, and possibly even a bear market in some areas.
Let’s hug the people we love extra tightly today.
P.S. Tired of war and bad news? Need a break? I’ve got two TED talks for you:
- 1) A dive into research that shows how are brains might be wired for optimism
- 2) how to forge meaning from challenging moments.
1https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/business/oil-prices-russia-ukraine.html