Mar 24, 2026
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, explains how long-term investors are staying loose on the bars in response to the current oil shock. Plus, why managing today’s risks is bringing back yesterday’s solutions - from steering wheel locks to decades-old pipelines.
(0:47) Tracey, there’s a lot hitting markets at once. How do you keep your composure?
(3:43) Back in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, the oil price hit over $120 per barrel. The peak so far is under that. And yet, despite this, the price at the pump here in Australia is higher than it was in 2022.
(4:56) Staying on the topic of macroeconomic policy, the Reserve Bank tightened monetary policy last week, lifting the official interest to 4.1% - the second consecutive rise. It was the first central bank among the majors to respond to the war in this way.
(6:42) And beneath all of that, the real economy, at least in the US, seems to be holding up?
(8:18) Let’s talk about AI - because it still feels like the structural story cutting through everything else.
(9:51) So, it’s moving from assistant… to operator? And Huang’s point is that this is bigger than the last wave?
(11:20) So, AI is forcing governments to rethink how they operate?
(15:44) So, this isn’t just an AI story - it’s an economic and political one as well.