If In Doubt… Zoom Out
If you only read the headlines right now… you’d think the world was falling apart.
War.
Oil spikes.
Markets wobbling.
Interest rate fears.
It’s enough to make anyone feel uneasy.
But here’s a simple rule we use when markets get loud:
If in doubt… zoom out.
Let me show you what I mean.
As at 12 March 2026:
Over the last 12 months
The ASX200 (Australia’s 200 biggest companies like CBA, BHP and Woolworths) is up 10.54%.
The NASDAQ (large US companies like Apple, Meta and Amazon) is up 28.71%.
Now zoom in to the last 30 days:
The ASX200 is down 4.83%
The NASDAQ is down 0.53%
See the difference?
The last 30 days look scary.
The last 12 months look pretty strong.
That’s the trap most investors fall into.
Our brains zoom in when we should zoom out.
This came up in a conversation with a client recently.
They said,
“Markets feel shaky… should we be worried?”
Fair question.
Because when the news cycle speeds up, it feels like something big is breaking.
But markets don’t just move because of headlines.
Often the real signals are happening somewhere else.
Right now the bond market is telling an important story.
Bond yields have been rising sharply in both the US and Australia.
That might sound technical, but the idea is simple.
The bond market is where investors bet on the future of inflation, interest rates and economic growth.
When yields jump quickly, it means investors are suddenly changing their expectations.
Just a week ago the US market expected interest rate cuts.
Now those expectations are disappearing.
Why?
Because higher oil prices can push inflation higher again.
And if inflation rises, central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer.
Australia is particularly sensitive to this because we carry a lot of household debt and mortgages.
So when bond yields rise, it can create pressure across the economy.
Higher yields tend to lead to:
Tighter financial conditions
Pressure on equities and crypto
Higher volatility
A stronger US dollar
None of this is panic.
It’s simply markets adjusting to new information.
And this is something we talked about with our clients back in December.
At the time, markets were confident rate cuts were coming.
We suggested there was still a real possibility that rates stay higher for longer in 2026.
That’s exactly the direction markets are now pricing.
There’s another piece of the puzzle too.
Oil.
You’ve probably noticed petrol prices creeping higher.
Some service stations are already showing $2.29+ per litre for unleaded.
The reason is simple.
About 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.
If that flow is disrupted, global supply tightens quickly.
Before the disruption, the global oil balance looked like this:
Supply: 108 million barrels per day
Demand: 106 million barrels per day
That’s a small cushion.
But if that key shipping route stays closed, the world could temporarily lose around 21 million barrels per day of supply.
That would create a massive shortfall.
And the reality is, the rest of the world cannot instantly replace that supply.
Oil production takes time.
New drilling.
More rigs.
New pipelines.
Even aggressive production increases would only cover a fraction of the gap in the short term.
When supply falls below demand, oil prices don’t move slowly.
They move quickly.
And higher oil prices feed straight into inflation.
We see it in:
Fuel.
Food.
Flights.
Freight.
Which then circles back to interest rates again.
So yes, markets may feel unsettled right now.
But this is exactly why we focus on the big picture.
One of my favourite reminders is:
“Short term markets are noise. Long term markets are progress.”
Think of investing like a long road trip.
If you stare only at the next bend in the road, every corner feels dangerous.
But if you zoom out on the map, you realise you’re still heading in the right direction.
For the clients we work with, we’re already monitoring these developments closely and adjusting where needed.
Your strategy was built knowing that markets, politics and economies will always go through cycles.
If you’re reading this and we don’t currently work together, but you’re unsure how all of this affects your plan, that’s a good time to ask the question.
Just Contact us or SMS 0483 937 777.
Because when markets get noisy, clarity matters more than ever.
Talk soon,
7Wealth Pty Ltd ABN 44609210246 is a Corporate Authorised Representatives and is authorised throughCobalt AdvisersPty Ltd ABN 64 628 654 099 who is an Australian Financial Services Licensee 512550. 7Wealth Pty Ltd is a Credit Representative ofAustralian Finance GroupLtd ABN 11 066 385 822 (AFG) Australian Credit Licence 389087.
This blog contains information that is general in nature. It does not constitute financial or taxation advice. The information does not take into account your objectives, needs and circumstances. We recommend that you obtain investment and taxation advice specific to your investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs before making any investment decision or acting on any of the information contained in this document. Subject to law, Cobalt Advisers Pty Ltd nor their directors, employees or authorised representatives, do not give any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information; or accepts any responsibility for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on the basis of the information contained in this document.
