Market Volatility Five charts that put market volatility in perspective

Fallout from the intensifying war in the Middle East has once again put market volatility in the spotlight.

Oil prices have surged, sending the cost of gasoline higher and increasing the prospect of a global energy-induced economic slowdown. Since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, the S&P 500 Index has fallen about 2.3% through to 18 March. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury, a cornerstone of the global financial system, has risen to 4.20% from 3.94% before the war, though it remains below where it began the year.

Should the worst oil supply shock in decades persist, investors may have doubts about their approach in such an uncertain environment. It is natural to seek safer shores when markets are choppy. But it is equally important to step back, gain perspective, and look beyond the horizon.

History shows the market has always recovered from previous declines. Here are five insights that can help investors regain confidence and stay invested for the long haul.

1. When in doubt, zoom out

Think back to early 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine delivered a geopolitical shock that rattled markets and dominated headlines, much like today. Brent crude climbed nearly 30% to a high of $128 per barrel. At the same time, central banks led by the US Federal Reserve moved aggressively to raise interest rates, compounding uncertainty for investors already on edge.

How did stocks react? Fears that war and the fastest Fed rate hikes in decades would tip the global economy into a recession sent the S&P 500 Index down 19% in 2022. But the index staged a powerful rebound in 2023, gaining nearly 24% as inflation cooled, energy markets stabilised, and earnings proved more resilient than many investors expected. The episode serves as a reminder that markets often absorb shocks faster than headlines suggest.

Whether the market choppiness of early 2026 might give way to smoother sailing is impossible to know. But the upcoming midterm elections could steer the Trump administration to focus on more bread-and-butter issues that add economic optimism.

2. Markets typically have recovered quickly

Although markets declined during volatile periods, they often bounced back quickly. Indeed, stock market returns are typically stronger after sharp declines The average 12-month return from the S&P 500 immediately following a 15% or greater decline is 52%. That is why it’s usually best to remain calm and stay invested.

How often have S&P 500 corrections of 10% or more turned into entrenched bear markets? Turns out, not often. Instead, short periods of pullbacks ranging from 5% to 10% have been more common. While these may feel unsettling, a drop of 5% occurs on average twice per year while corrections of 10% or more happen every 18 months on average. And while intra-year declines are common, the good news is 38 of the last 50 calendar years have finished with positive returns.

What’s more, a selloff can create investment opportunities. For example, during the pandemic, investors punished a broad swathe of travel and leisure companies — including Royal Caribbean, which fell 83% from 20 January 2020 to 18 March 2020 — as lockdowns brought air travel, cruises and hotel bookings to a halt.

Certain travel and leisure stocks have since staged a dramatic recovery. Royal Caribbean returned 334% from the low to its peak price on 2 June 2021, as national vaccination rates and confidence grew. Identifying investment opportunities requires skill and experience, especially when markets are volatile. Bottom-up fundamental analysis may help investors balance short-term volatility with a longer-term perspective.

3. Bear markets have been relatively short-lived

A long-term focus can help investors put bear markets in perspective. Since 1949 there have been 11 periods of 20%-or-greater declines in the S&P 500. Although the average 33% decline during these cycles is painful to endure, missing out on the average bull market’s 265% return could be far worse.

Bear markets are typically shorter than bull markets, lasting an average of 12 months. While that can feel like an eternity, it pales in comparison to the average bull market, which lasts for 67 months — another reason that trying to time investment decisions is ill-advised.

Forecasting the start of the next recession is difficult. Many investors, for example, braced for a recession when the Federal Reserve raised rates in 2022 to combat sky-high inflation. Instead, the US economy grew, with markets posting double-digit gains in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In the current environment, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz increases the risk of recession because of its significance as a vital passageway for one-fifth of the world’s oil. Higher energy costs could weigh on businesses and consumers, reducing the earnings potential for many companies. But the economy has surprised to the upside before, and it is too early to tell if widespread job losses, the hallmark of a recession, will occur.

4. Bonds can offer balance when it is needed most

In periods of slowing economic growth, bonds often shine brightest. In fact, it is the reason why high-quality bond funds are often the foundation of a classic 60% equities and 40% bonds portfolio. While the exact allocation may shift, a diversified portfolio is intended to generate attractive returns while minimising risk.

Bonds are known to zig when equity markets zag. That reaction could take time to play out as investors react to near-term dynamics before digesting the war’s risks to the overall economy. Currently, markets are focused on the potential inflationary shocks tied to a disruption in the world’s oil supply rather than the longer-term possibility of declining growth. The US may prove to be less sensitive to inflationary pressures from an energy price shock than other countries, giving the Fed room to respond to growth challenges that may arise from higher energy prices.

For its part, the Fed is likely to balance rate cuts with inflationary pressures from geopolitical uncertainties, so cuts may be slower to materialise absent a more pronounced economic downturn. Because yields are higher today following the Fed’s rate-hiking cycle in 2022, bonds have a higher income cushion to help absorb price volatility should rates rise.

Moreover, with bonds offering healthy income potential, investors may be able to take less risk with high-quality bonds while still meeting their return expectations. 

5. Staying the course has paid off for long-term investors

When markets are volatile, it is hard to resist the urge to do something. Suggestions to stay the course offer little comfort when markets and emotions are spiraling. But in many cases, the best course of action has been none at all.

Beneath the unease are broader questions about the durability of our rules-based systems and geopolitical alliances that have anchored decades of relative economic stability. As globalisation continues to evolve, markets may be forced to contend more frequently with sudden disruptions.

Take the sweeping tariffs President Trump levied on nearly all major US trading partners in the spring of 2025. The S&P 500 Index plunged as much as 18.7% from its peak in February as investors feared the global economy would enter a deep downturn. Those worries later eased amid trade deals and continued economic resilience. By year’s end, the S&P 500 Index recovered and finished up 17.9%.

The lesson? Market declines can be painful but rather than trying to time the market, investors would be wise to stay the course. To weather market volatility, they should seek diversification across stocks and bonds while periodically examining their risk tolerance for elevated volatility. Though it may feel like this time is different, markets have shown resilience throughout history when confronted by wars, pandemics and other crises.