Stock FAQs

what effect does war have on the stock market

by Milton Halvorson Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Though war and defense spending can amount to a sizable portion of the U.S. GDP, wars often have little sustained impact on stock markets or economic growth at home. Markets largely have ignored recent conflicts related to the Middle East and Iran.

Full Answer

How has war affected the stock market in the past?

Here is a look at how war has affected the stock market in the past. Looking at data from 21 wartime events since Pearl Harbor, the initial first-day return has given the S&P an average of -1.2% return. The biggest first-day negative return was June 25, 1950, when North Korea invades South Korea.

What are the effects of war on commodities?

The effects of war on commodities are a little more significant than with stocks. When we talk about the prices of commodities, we’re usually referencing the price of futures contracts for certain commodities. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to exchange an item at a previously agreed upon price.

Is War good or bad for stocks?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 also ended down for the fifth time in the past seven weeks, and the Nasdaq Composite was off for the sixth week in the past eight. Notwithstanding the late singer Edwin Starr’s contention, the one thing war (or its potential) may be good for is lower interest rates.

Is War good or bad for the bond market?

Notwithstanding the late singer Edwin Starr’s contention, the one thing war (or its potential) may be good for is lower interest rates. Bond yields backed off from their recent surge in a flight to safety as investors sought to hedge risky assets.

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What happens to the stock market when a war starts?

Yes, during the pre-war phase, stock prices decline due to uncertainty, but once war begins, the stock market goes up. Most of the pre-war volatility subsides, and investors enjoy relative stability.

What does war mean for stocks?

Over the last 100+ years we have seen the stock market rise sharply following a prolonged war. Most recently, the war in Afghanistan (2002-2021) saw huge stock market swings but if you strapped in and stayed for the duration your accounts were sharply higher.

Do stocks Go Down during war?

Though war and defense spending can amount to a sizable portion of the U.S. GDP, wars often have little sustained impact on stock markets or economic growth at home. Markets largely have ignored recent conflicts related to the Middle East and Iran.

What investments do well during war?

Stocks will stay resilient amid the war. Steiner said past precedent shows stocks can maintain value during major conflicts. "If we take a historical view looking at the geopolitical lens, most portfolios heavily weighted in equities tend to be pretty resilient."

What Factors Affect How Stocks Are Affected By War?

Civil wars and internal conflicts such as those that occurred in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) and the Central African Republic in 2013 caused severe disruption in those countries’ economies. However, there was little or no impact on first-world nations like the United States.

World War I Stock Market Performance

Leading up to World War I, the global economy looked nothing like it does today. Each nation operated independently, and most who participated in global trade were on the gold standard.

World War II Stock Market Performance

When World War II started in 1939, the United States was just beginning to emerge from the Great Depression.

Vietnam War Stock Market Performance

The Vietnam War might have been one of the most unpopular in United States history, but the stock market grew anyway.

Gulf War Stock Market Performance

The Gulf War lasted just seven months, from August 2, 1990, through February 28, 1991. Its brevity makes it difficult to separate market changes caused by the conflict from those related to other world events. For example, oil prices spiked during this period, which caused a brief recession – an unusual economic state during war time.

Afghanistan War Stock Market Performance

It’s not entirely possible to measure the impact of the Afghanistan War on the stock market performance due to the sheer length of the conflict.

What Patterns Emerge from Historical Stock Market Performance During War Times?

Geopolitical conflict tends to cause market volatility, at least in the early days. Logically, investors might assume that the volatility continues throughout war times, but history shows that this isn’t the case.

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