Retail Banker International asks the experts on how the markets are reacting to the Israel conflict with Hamas. As the death toll rises and more nations are impacted, investors need to be aware.
One of the first banks to support urgent humanitarian aid and community support in the Middle East is Toronto Dominion. It is to donate $250,000 and in addition to its direct contribution, TD will also be accepting in-branch donations. TD donations will be directed to the Canadian Red Cross Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Appeal to provide humanitarian assistance to those impacted across the region.
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Nikos Tzabouras, Senior Financial Editorial Writer at FXCM
Market reaction to the Hamas-Israel conflict was immediate. US Oil rose on Monday, as the events can affect the supply and demand of oil and Iran’s return prospects, although it is early to assess the full impact. The events unfold at a time when supply is tight and inventories dwindle, due to the massive OPEC+ cuts. On the other hand, there are fears around demand as China’s recovery is failing, while the US Fed is pushing the higher-for-longer narrative.
Energy giants like BP and Shell strengthened. Major airliners such as Lufthansa, Ryanair and Delta Airlines faced pressure on Monday, as they already deal with increasing fuel costs.
XAU/USD managed to avoid fresh 2023 lows, the risk aversion may give it the chance to reclaim the EMA200 (at around 1,891). Daily closes above would pause the downside bias, but we are cautious around its ascending prospects and the upside looks unhospitable, with multiple roadblocks.
Despite this week’s surge, XAU/USD comes from a losing month due to the Fed’s hawkish bias which benefits the greenback, and Friday’s strong NFPs support the higher-for-longer narrative. The commodity is at risk of new 2023 lows (1,804), although further losses towards and beyond 1,765 may prove elusive in the near term. The daily chart is also unfavourable since a Death Cross has formed (EMA50 < EMA200), which is often a precursor of sustained weakness.
Russell Shor, Senior Market Specialist at FXCM
The Hamas attacks and incursion into southern Israel on Saturday morning is the deadliest in 50 years and carries the highest civilian casualty count. As such, financial markets begin the week on tentative footing.
Given the conflict in the Middle East, the dollar considered the current haven of choice and is showing bullish signs. Its green 5-hour EMA has crossed above its orange 10-hour EMA and the stochastic has also crossed positively (black ellipses). The stochastic has pushed into the 80+ levels (blue arrow). If it maintains at these levels, there will be an underlying bullish momentum which will support the dollar price.
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By GlobalData
Norman Villamin, group chief strategist, UBP
The Hamas invasion of southern Israel over the weekend is an eruption of an ongoing regional conflict and humanitarian crisis which has the potential to expand into a prolonged conflict that historically has been a headwind for global equity markets.
A look back at the impact of such geopolitical conflicts on the S&P 500 going back to 1940 – ranging from coups/assassinations, to terrorist events, and including cross-border wars between nation-states – in aggregate suggests modest upfront impact of such events which dissipate quickly.
However, the type and duration of the event are significant in understanding the potential impact upon markets.
Indeed, domestic terrorist attacks (2004 Madrid, 2005 London, etc.) have historically had only temporary impacts on markets, with the S&P 500 rising, on average 3-12 months afterwards.
Importantly, however, prolonged conflict between or eventually drawing in multiple nations has presented at least a 6-month headwind to US equity returns with the notable exception being the start of hostilities in Korea.
Implications
Thus, the risk that the largest incursion into Israel since 1973 transforms from a localised event to one that is prolonged and engulfs a wider range of nations should be among the key concerns for investors. Indeed, a prolonged conflict has the potential to draw in Iran and imperil the potential normalisation of Saudi-Israeli ties that are reported to be close to being announced.
With Iranian exports and US releases from its strategic petroleum reserve having virtually fully offset Saudi supply cuts since September, a global response which reduces Iranian supply where Saudi Arabia does not compensate with increased production would create a renewed supply shock for global energy markets.
With energy equities historically cheap on an absolute basis and relative to the broader market, the sector may offer a safe haven amidst the geopolitical uncertainty introduced over the weekend.
Nigel Green, CEO, deVere Group
The events in this region are now directly impacting financial markets worldwide, which, as ever in times of increased volatility, is immediately prompting some investors into selling off riskier parts of their portfolios, such as stocks and some currencies.
Oil has a disproportionate impact on global financial markets due to its pivotal role in the world economy, its interconnectedness with various sectors, and its potential to influence broader economic conditions and investor sentiment.
I would urge investors to avoid knee-jerk reactions to the oil price surge and geopolitical tensions that are creating the market turbulence.
Investors are likely to profit by sitting still and not selling and then having to buy back at higher prices.
Indeed, savvy investors, including the likes of Warren Buffett, will likely use the volatility and lower entry points to top-up their portfolios for the long-term with high quality stocks that have robust fundamentals.
Diversification is your best weapon to mitigate the risks associated with geopolitical events.
While short-term market fluctuations can be unsettling, it’s essential to maintain a long-term perspective when making investment decisions. Historically, markets have rebounded from geopolitical crises, and a well-constructed portfolio can weather such storms.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown
The shocking attacks in Israel have sent the price of oil soaring, as investors assess the potential for the conflict to disrupt supply in the Middle East, if other countries are drawn in. With the Israeli government warning of a long and difficult war, there are concerns that deep and incessant retaliative strikes on Gaza could potentially bring Iran into the conflict and have an impact on the flow of energy in the region. The strikes and incursions by Hamas have sent the price of a barrel of the benchmark Brent crude, up by more than 3%, to trade above $87 a barrel. It’s the latest surprise twist in the path of oil prices, with the commodity pushed upwards partly due to supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia, then buffeted down by concerns about a weakening global growth outlook. This latest jump will fuel inflationary worries, at a time when investors are already jittery about the interest rates potentially staying higher for longer.
Nerves are showing signs of being frayed again just as investors had started to breathe a sigh of relief that the US might be heading for a softer landing, despite the high level of interest rates. Investors had cheered Friday’s jobs data given that it showed continued strength of the US economy, with a bumper payroll number, but also indicated that wage growth was moderating. With geo-political risk sharply in focus we’ve seen investors retreat into safe haven assets, with the dollar and the yen edging up, while gold has jumped 1%. The ultra-cautious mood is set to keep a lid on gains for the FTSE 100. While the higher oil price is set to support energy stocks, nervousness about a conflict escalating in the US is set to keep the index trading pretty flat in early trade.
The S&P 500 is expected to start the week in a downbeat mood, given the shocking eruption of conflict in Israel. The latest inflation snapshot, due out this week, is set to keep investors on edge. Although price rises are expected to have slowed again in September, any hint of stubbornness creeping back into the picture could lead to another bout of selling. Bond markets are closed for Columbus Day, so it’s unclear yet what impact events in Israel will have on Treasury yields, although concerns about fresh inflationary pressures from higher oil prices, may limit a move lower despite a search for safety by other investors.
