Last Week in Investing

1️⃣ Geopolitical Risk Is Now A Market Driver Again

The U.S.-Iran conflict escalated further last week, with threats around the Strait of Hormuz and attacks near nuclear-related sites intensifying investor concerns.

Why this matters for investors:

• The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints

• Any prolonged disruption could tighten oil supply and keep prices elevated

• Higher energy prices can feed directly into inflation expectations and global market volatility

This is no longer just a foreign policy story.

It’s a macro risk story affecting oil, inflation, rates, and equity sentiment.

Investor takeaway:
When geopolitical risk starts affecting energy supply, markets tend to quickly reprice growth expectations and inflation risks.

2️⃣ Bond Markets Are Starting To Price A Tougher Inflation Path

European bond yields jumped after the Bank of England and European Central Bank both held rates steady, while warning signs from the Iran conflict raised fears of a new energy-driven inflation wave.

The shift was significant:

• UK gilt yields surged sharply

• European sovereign bonds sold off

• Investors began reassessing whether rate cuts may be delayed — or even reversed

This matters because bond yields influence almost everything:

• stock valuations

• borrowing costs

• risk appetite

• future capital flows

Investor takeaway:
If energy prices stay elevated, central banks may have less room to ease.
That would be a tougher environment for rate-sensitive assets and high-valuation stocks.

3️⃣ Salesforce Is Betting Debt Is Cheaper Than Dilution

Salesforce began the first steps of a debt-funded $25 billion accelerated stock buyback, part of a broader $50 billion authorization.

At first glance, borrowing money to repurchase stock may look risky.
But management is making a calculated bet:

• the stock is undervalued after AI-related fears

• debt remains cheaper than equity

• reducing share count could improve earnings per share and capital efficiency over time

The risk, however, is clear.

If AI disruption really weakens Salesforce’s long-term position, then the company has added leverage at the wrong time.
If management is right, this move could prove highly rewarding for shareholders.

Investor takeaway:
This is a capital allocation story.

It shows how companies are now being forced to make sharper decisions on balance sheet strength, cost of capital, and conviction in their own future.

👀 What Investors Are Watching Now

Bullish Signals

• Companies using capital strategically during market weakness

• Opportunities emerging in mispriced quality names

• Potential reversals if geopolitical tensions ease

Risk Signals

• Oil staying elevated for longer

• Bond yields continuing to rise

• Higher leverage becoming harder to justify if growth slows

⭐ Lesson Of The Week

Markets are no longer just asking who can grow.
They’re asking who can adapt, allocate capital wisely, and survive under pressure.

That’s a very different market from the one investors got used to before.

Free Workshop Invitation

How To Protect Your Portfolio During This Volatile Market

Markets have turned shaky again.

Oil prices have jumped, geopolitical tensions remain elevated, and U.S. stocks have been under pressure. 

Reuters reported on March 19 that surging oil prices and concerns around the Fed outlook were weighing on investor sentiment, with the S&P 500 sitting near a four-month low and down for 2026.

But markets like this can also be a useful reminder:

When conditions get noisy, having a clear investing framework matters even more.

Instead of reacting to headlines or guessing the next move, good investors go back to the basics.

In our upcoming FREE 2-hour Next Level Options Workshop, Bjorn, our Head of Mentorship at Next Level Academy will share with you the following:

✅ Buffett Investing 101 – The timeless value investing principles behind Berkshire’s success, and how to find undervalued companies to grow long-term wealth in all market conditions.

✅ The Buffett Options Secret (B.O.S.S.) – Earn up to 3.6% ROI monthly with premiums while waiting to buy quality stocks at your ideal price. 

✅ How to Use Smaller Capital for Bigger Upside: To control 100x more shares at a fraction of its cost. 

If you’d like a clearer and more structured way to think about investing in today’s market, this workshop will be a valuable place to start.

📅 Date & Time: 24th March (Tuesday), 8 PM – 10 PM (GMT +8)
📍 Location: Online via Zoom

Unlock more ways to learn, earn, and grow with Go-LEAP, our official affiliate & community network.

As a free member, you’ll get access to:

• Affiliate opportunities to earn commissions by promoting our programs

• Weekly market insights curated for serious investors

• AI tools & templates to speed up your research

• Exclusive Telegram community for discussions, signals, and updates

Create your free Go-LEAP membership account here:

Next Level Live: What You’ve Missed

In case you missed our previous Next Level Live session, here’s what everyone’s been talking about 👇

Every session is packed with real strategies, real breakdowns, and real results, the kind you don’t want to hear about only after they happen.

👉 Subscribe now and hit ‘Notify Me’ so you’re first in the room next time, not catching up later!

That’s a wrap for this week!

Investing is better when you’re not doing it alone.

If you’d like to learn and grow alongside fellow Next Levellers, our new Telegram community is open to you:

As always, let’s keep leveling up together!

Next Level Academy

We educate. We build wealth. We transform together.