The Market Call - Week Ending 20th March 2026

Progressive's Jeremy McKeown and Gareth Evans discuss the ongoing challenges emanating from the Middle East. Unlike last year's tariff news, where the Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) trade often won out, it takes two to TACO in a war like this - and Iran so far is not helping.

Markets have been stung, although the US Dollar is once again the "safe haven" asset, making the inflationary impact worse for non-USA countries.  Those inflationary risks abound, and the independence of central banks in this critical period will once again be an issue.

Equity markets appear to be less worried than bond investors, although this could change, depending crucially on how long the current impasse persists in the all-important Strait of Hormuz.

When the oil price is more volatile than bitcoin, you know we're in interesting times...