Global equity markets have entered a phase of heightened volatility as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices triggered a sharp sell-off across major financial centres. From Asia to the United States, markets opened the week under pressure, reflecting growing investor anxiety over the economic fallout of a prolonged conflict and tighter energy supplies.
The risk-off mood has been visible across asset classes. Asian markets witnessed steep declines, with Japan’s benchmark plunging sharply while Hong Kong and mainland Chinese indices also slipped. Futures for Indian equities signalled a weak start as investors reacted to the negative global cues and uncertainty surrounding the trajectory of the conflict.
Market participants say the biggest concern now is that the conflict, which many initially believed would be short-lived, could drag on longer and create broader economic disruptions. According to Rajeev Agrawal from DoorDarshi India Fund, the consequences could be particularly severe if oil prices remain elevated for an extended period.
“This war was initially expected to be short, but things are becoming worse by the day,” Agrawal said, warning that tight oil markets could quickly create problems for many economies, including India.
The sharp fall in global equities has left investors grappling with a critical question: whether to protect capital by booking profits or to use the correction to deploy fresh money.
Rather than reacting impulsively to volatility, Agrawal emphasised the importance of portfolio rotation. “In such situations we rotate our capital,” he said, explaining that investors should gradually sell stocks that appear fully valued and redeploy the proceeds into companies that have become more attractive after the correction.
Periods of broad market stress, he noted, often push down prices across sectors, creating opportunities for long-term investors willing to look beyond near-term turbulence.Agrawal believes that certain sectors could prove relatively resilient despite the challenging macro environment. Financials, for instance, may not be as directly affected by rising oil prices compared to other parts of the economy.
“Financials will of course feel the impact if the economy slows, but the downside can sometimes be exaggerated in such market conditions,” he said, adding that this is where investors can selectively “cherry pick” opportunities.
Another theme he highlighted is renewable energy. With oil prices surging, the push for alternative energy sources could gain momentum, particularly in countries like India that are heavily dependent on energy imports. Investments in renewable energy, he said, could therefore benefit from the current global backdrop.
Even so, Agrawal cautioned against trying to perfectly time the market bottom. “It is very hard to know when the dust will settle,” he said, noting that unexpected developments can quickly change market direction.
Instead, he advocates a disciplined investment approach—maintaining some cash while gradually deploying capital during market declines. Investors should “start nibbling into positions” that have become compelling while also ensuring they retain enough liquidity to act on future opportunities.
In an environment where geopolitical shocks and energy markets are driving volatility, the strategy for investors may not lie in predicting the next market move, but in staying patient, disciplined and prepared to rotate capital as opportunities emerge.