George Thomas, Fund Manager – Equity at Quantum AMC, believes the recent jump in crude oil prices, triggered by geopolitical tensions, could temporarily push inflation higher and weigh on global macro conditions. He noted that the base case remains that the tensions may not stretch for a long period. The situation could last for a few weeks or possibly a month, but may not drag on for much longer. If that plays out, crude prices could reverse just as quickly as they moved up. Despite the uncertainty, he believes current market levels offer reasonable entry points as the earnings cycle remains supportive. His fund has been adding exposure to a real estate company and increasing weights in select private banks, IT services firms and a cement player.
