Economic update, International Women’s Day, and #MacroMemo

Conflict has broken out in the Middle East, disrupting the global flow of oil and natural gas and introducing a new layer of uncertainty for the economy and markets. The situation remains fluid, but in this economic update we outline some of the potential implications of recent geopolitical developments for Canada, the U.S., and the broader global economy.

We are proud to highlight our International Women’s Day event held on March 4th: this year’s theme was ‘Give to Gain’ – to celebrate, we hosted a panel discussion with incredible local female leaders whose work reflects the power of generosity, purpose, and community connection.

We are also sharing the most recent episode of the #MacroMemo with RBC Chief Economist Eric Lascelles. In this episode, Eric dives into several relevant topics including the current conflict in the Middle East and its impact on energy costs, the likely path forward for global markets, AI’s economic transformation, and what the tariff outlook could be following the U.S. Supreme Court decision on previously imposed tariffs.

Economic Update

The Fog of Geopolitics

On February 28, the U.S. launched a large-scale military offensive against Iran following weeks of military buildup in the region. The escalation materially increased geopolitical risk and injected renewed volatility into financial markets. Equity markets retreated and bond yields edged higher in response to a sharp rise in energy prices amid worries of supply disruptions tied to a potential prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.

In moments like these, we believe considering history provides valuable perspective. While geopolitical shocks often generate short-term market turbulence, occasionally severe, they have historically had limited influence on longer-term market direction. Across roughly two dozen significant military conflicts since 1950, the S&P 500 delivered positive returns twelve months later nearly three-quarters of the time. Markets typically adapt as uncertainty gradually gives way to clearer policy direction and improved economic visibility, making these episodes more transitional than structural in nature.

Nevertheless, military conflicts are inherently unpredictable. As such, the balance of risks surrounding the economic outlook has likely worsened at the margin. In our view, oil prices remain the key transmission channel to monitor. The $100-per-barrel level represents an important psychological and economic threshold, as sustained increases could adversely influence consumer spending and inflation. We expect financial markets will remain sensitive to energy prices in the near term, and a durable decline in oil would help build confidence that tensions are receding, and market volatility could begin to normalize.

Despite heightened uncertainty, macro conditions remain reasonably constructive. The world economy was on a sturdy foundation prior to the conflict, underscored by broadening growth momentum and strong corporate earnings trends. This suggests to us that businesses and markets entered this period of geopolitical tension from a position of relative resilience.

Global and U.S. Implications

Energy markets have been exceptionally volatile, with oil prices moving within a wide range as investors attempt to gauge the likely duration and intensity of the conflict. Ultimately, how high oil prices rise—and how long they remain elevated—will be a key determinant of the broader economic impact. The impact is likely to vary significantly across regions, particularly between energy-importing and energy-exporting economies. Europe and much of Asia remain heavily reliant on imported energy, leaving them more vulnerable to higher inflation and weaker growth if oil prices stay high.

The U.S. appears somewhat better positioned to absorb an energy shock. The amount of oil required to produce one unit of GDP is about 70% lower than in the 1980s, and the country’s position as a net energy exporter reduces its direct exposure to supply disruptions. Reflecting these dynamics, U.S. equities—while lower since hostilities began—have generally held up better than many international peers, while the U.S. dollar has strengthened against most major currencies. That said, a prolonged period of elevated oil prices would still represent a headwind for the American economy by placing pressure on discretionary consumer spending and raising input costs for businesses. Meanwhile, the combination of potential inflationary pressures and slower growth could complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, with markets recently paring back expectations for near-term rate cuts.

Implications for Canada

Canadian equities have also declined since the conflict began, though the S&P/TSX Composite Index remains in positive territory year to date. The Canadian market’s significant weighting in the Energy sector has provided support, helping to offset weakness in other sectors. Energy accounts for roughly 15% of Canada’s goods exports and approximately 6% of GDP, suggesting that the country could see some modest economic benefit from higher oil prices.

However, Canada’s ability to fully capitalize on rising prices is constrained by limited pipeline capacity, which restrains how quickly exports can increase. As elsewhere, higher oil prices have mixed economic effects: stronger revenues for energy producers and governments, but higher fuel costs for households and businesses. For interest rates, the potential for renewed inflationary pressure tied to the conflict has added uncertainty to the outlook for the Bank of Canada’s benchmark rate, with futures markets now pricing in some probability of monetary policy tightening in the second half of the year.

Summary

Markets dislike uncertainty. As such, renewed Middle East conflict has produced the expected reaction: uncomfortable volatility alongside sharply higher energy prices. The key unknown, which markets are struggling most to assess, is the length of the conflict. Inconsistent messaging from the U.S. administration has added to the uncertainty, limiting visibility for investors.

The economic outlook understandably feels less certain than it did two weeks ago, and we are continuing to closely monitor for signs that financial or economic stress may be emerging. With a wider range of possible outcomes now in play, maintaining discipline becomes especially important.

While markets may remain unsettled in the short term, longer-term outcomes ultimately reflect fundamentals such as economic growth and corporate earnings trajectory. In our view, recent events continue to highlight the value of thoughtful diversification and disciplined alignment with long-term investment goals as a prudent approach to navigating inevitable periods of uncertainty.

Give to Gain – celebrating International Women’s Day in Guelph

International Women's Day 2026

On Wednesday March 4th, we were proud to host our International Women’s Day event at Cutten Fields in Guelph.

We hosed a panel of incredible local leaders including Julia Grady (Executive Director & Co-Founder of 10C Shared Space), Ingrid Von Cube (Community Volunteer & Entrepreneur), and Suzanne Bone (former CEO of the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital), moderated by our own Karie Huisman. The discussion was energetic, fascinating, and engaging – we’d like to thank each of our panelists for sharing their story and helping to inspire other local leaders and entrepreneurs..

#MacroMemo: Forces of Change

MacroMemo With economic and geopolitical forces at play, Eric Lascelles (RBC Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy Research) unpacks how energy costs are being impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, how we can anticipate markets to react over time, the role AI is playing in reshaping the economy, and what the new tariff future could look like for the United States.