Middle East escalation keeps investors on edge

The escalation in the Middle East continues with US troops coming to the region and Houthis joining the war. Oil prices are up this morning, again, with some calling for $150… even $200 per barrel. But at what cost? Demand destruction, rising recession risks and a potential stagflation shock are all back on the table. At the same time, central banks are stuck. Inflation could stay higher for longer, even as growth slows — a difficult mix to assess when uncertainties are so high. Listen to find out more! Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020, and launched her own website ipekScope.com in 2025.