Markets are falling. Investors are tense. The economy is shifting. Panic or perspective? Pressure doesn’t just shake—it shapes. It’s up to us to turn it into strength.
What happens when two legends meet in the Swiss Alps? Not another Federer-De Niro tourism ad—but something far more iconic. In 1981, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie crossed paths in Montreux. The result? “Under Pressure”—a track that would go on to join Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Few realize it was born on the shores of Lake Geneva, making it the perfect soundtrack for this moment in the markets.
Because right now, everything is under pressure.
Investors are unsure where to turn.
Governments are scrambling to adapt as alliances shift.
The U.S. president is under fire to deliver.
Central banks are caught between inflationary pressure and economic fragility.
And employers—public and private—just posted the highest number of February job cuts since 2009.
Since mid-February, global equity markets have slipped into the red. Leading the decline is the S&P 500, down over 10% from its highs. The dollar is softening, cryptocurrencies are plunging, and safe-haven assets are rallying. When pressure builds, panic isn’t far behind. And while retail investors often move first, professionals aren’t immune either.
But before we hit the panic button, let’s pause.
Because beneath the surface tremors, something deeper is shifting. And it might not be all bad.
A World Being Rewritten
Start with the U.S. A 10% market drop might seem dramatic—but in the context of President Trump’s sweeping agenda, it’s hardly shocking.
In just a few weeks:
– 89 executive orders signed
– The federal government reshaped
– Immigration curbed
– Over $1.4 trillion in goods targeted by tariffs
– Plans unveiled for a sovereign wealth fund and a strategic reserve
– Markets deregulated
– An energy emergency declared
– And Teslas… sold
Investors are understandably struggling to digest the speed and scale of change.
Historically, Trump is now in rare company. Since 1925, only one U.S. president—FDR—has seen the S&P 500 fall by more than 10% in his first 100 days. But economically, it’s still early days. A bold shift isn’t necessarily a bad one. New foundations take time to settle.
Globally, this U.S. pivot is triggering unlikely reactions. Political and economic pressure is acting as a forcing function. Europe is stirring. Canada is responding. China is innovating. And from these adjustments, new opportunities are emerging.
Stress… and Openings
Market stress, especially in equities, may create ripple effects in bonds and liquidity. If inflation remains contained, the Federal Reserve could be nudged toward easing—welcome relief for conservative investors.
Meanwhile, gold quietly crossed $3,000 an ounce. That’s the advantage of being a safe haven with a few thousand years of credibility.
Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, don’t yet enjoy that legacy. And their recent price action reflects uncertainty. A year ago, few would have predicted a digital asset summit at the White House. Yet here we are—and still, prices are falling fast.
If that level of recognition doesn’t fuel momentum, what will?
Still, let’s not be too quick to despair. Markets are forward-looking machines. Much of today’s news flow is already priced in.
Pressure Is Not the Enemy
Markets hate uncertainty. But some of the best opportunities arise in moments of stress.
Succumbing to pressure means selling low, missing rebounds, and abandoning strategies that just needed time to work.
So let’s stay the course. Volatility is uncomfortable—but it’s also normal. Pressure, after all, is what turns carbon into diamonds.
As Freddie Mercury and David Bowie remind us:
“This is our last dance, this is ourselves… under pressure.”
The pressure is real. But it’s often in moments like these that the real turning points take shape—for the world, and for our portfolios.