War, oil and rate fears: How 2026 is testing investors

How can investors cut through the noise in financial markets, especially in 2026?

By betting on companies with good investment prospects and earnings potential, while remembering why they are investing in the first place.

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That was the overarching advice at the Money Summit on Tuesday from Gary Booysen, director and portfolio manager at Rand Swiss, and Will-John Keevy, provincial head of Momentum Financial Planning.

Rollercoaster year

The year 2026 has been a challenging one for investors.

The US war with Iran has made it especially tough for investors, sending oil prices soaring. Brent crude has jumped above $90 a barrel and, at one point, approached $110.

This has kept inflation stubbornly high, which in turn has forced the US Federal Reserve to consider raising interest rates again.

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Between the war, inflation and interest-rate hikes, it’s been a rollercoaster year with no respite for investors.

The conflict has also rattled shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global supply chains and pushing logistics costs higher across multiple industries.

Consequently, equity markets have been volatile, with energy stocks surging while tech names suffered sharp sell-offs. Even traditional safe-haven assets such as gold have experienced significant price swings.

Stay the course

Such volatility makes trying to time the market a futile exercise, reinforcing Booysen and Keevy’s advice that investors should avoid being distracted by daily market movements.

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Despite the noise, Booysen urged investors to stay the course, arguing that there are still attractive opportunities in the market.

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“There are great companies in the investment universe” with great earnings and dividend payments, he said.

“As an investor, you have to do the basics, such as reading a company’s financial statements. As an investor, you still have to do your homework. Financial planning and risk management are still important,” Booysen told the audience.

Avoid knee-jerk decisions

For Keevy, investors need to have a clear investment philosophy and “the discipline to continue with it”.

“It is important to remember your investment goals and what you are trying to achieve and go with it. Continuously ask if your investment philosophy is relevant.”

The worst thing investors can do, Keevy said, is to be spooked by short-term ructions in financial markets, prompting them to make “knee-jerk reactions”, such as selling-off investments.

Read: From paycheque to portfolio: A 2026 guide for first-time investors

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