Markets and Economic Updates April 2026: Energy Markets and Ongoing Conflicts

On April 7th, senior leaders from Hancock Whitney Asset Management hosted their April 2026 Markets and Economic Update Webcast, providing perspective on escalating geopolitical tensions, market volatility, and the evolving economic outlook.

A central focus of the discussion was the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its implications for global energy markets, inflation, and investor sentiment. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively constrained and energy infrastructure disrupted, the team outlined the potential for prolonged supply pressures and elevated energy prices, which could persist even under more favorable geopolitical outcomes.

Despite these headwinds, the U.S. economy remains resilient, supported by solid momentum, strong consumer balance sheets, and productivity gains. That said, rising costs, and heightened uncertainty could begin to pressure growth in the months ahead.

Watch the April 2026 Markets and Economic Webinar

Webcast Highlights: Key Takeaways

• Expect to see higher energy prices for an extended period as damage to infrastructure constrains supply.
• The economy has been very resilient… but we’re now seeing a deterioration in consumer confidence driven by rising prices and uncertainty.
• Recession is not our base case—we expect stable but fragile growth, with risks tied to the length and severity of the conflict.
• Investors are taking a pause—there’s a lot of uncertainty, and markets are trying to assess the impact of higher energy prices on growth.
• Interest rates moved higher alongside oil prices, reflecting renewed inflation concerns and shifting expectations for Fed policy.
• The Federal Reserve is likely to remain on the sidelines in the near term as it evaluates inflation and economic impacts.
• We are still in the early stages of a multi-year AI-driven productivity cycle that could provide meaningful long-term economic support.
• The outlook is considerably cloudier—near-term volatility is elevated, and outcomes will depend heavily on how the conflict evolves.

We encourage you to listen to the full recording for deeper insight into how these developments may impact markets and portfolio positioning in the months ahead.

Disciplined investing is more important now than ever.

Our Asset Management team at Hancock Whitney is ready to help you align your portfolio to weather uncertainty and pursue long-term goals. Contact your Private Banker today.

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