Thursday, March 12, 2026

How to Safeguard Your Portfolio From Stagflation

Trading With Larry Benedict
chart

Managing Editor’s Note: Remember to sign up to join Jeff Brown TODAY at 2 p.m. ET for his special event.

We’re closing in on March 16… when Jeff believes Nvidia is about to shake up the market. It’ll send some popular tech stocks spiraling and others soaring.

There’s still time to go here to automatically add your name to the list… and if you add your phone number to sign up for VIP access, you can collect a special report that spotlights one company Jeff believes is safe from the culling – Jeff’s Bulletproof AI Pick. You’ll also receive alerts to ensure you don’t miss a thing…

How to Safeguard Your Portfolio From Stagflation

By Larry Benedict, editor, Trading With Larry Benedict

The chaos in the Middle East is sending oil and stock prices soaring and plunging… all in the same trading session.

Reports of intensifying missile strikes are emerging right alongside headlines that the hostilities could be near an end. There’s even confusion around the Strait of Hormuz and whether tanker traffic is starting to flow again.

So far this week, oil prices have soared to nearly $120 per barrel before dropping to $86. The S&P 500 fell over 1% to start the week before recovering the loss.

And the turmoil doesn’t seem likely to slow down…

Just when it seems like investors have enough to contend with, another key market-moving event is about to collide with geopolitical uncertainty. The Federal Reserve is about to kick off its second meeting this year to discuss and vote on the appropriate level of interest rates.

That decision could be just as consequential for investors and the stock market as the developments in the Middle East.

The Fed could be facing its worst crisis in over 40 years. So today, let’s break down the Fed’s dilemma… and the steps you can take to prepare your portfolio.

Recommended Links


image

The Man Who Went 13-for-13 After Trump’s Election Issues Buy Alert

In Q1 2025, Larry Benedict didn't miss a single trade. 13 wins. Zero losses. While others panicked during Liberation Day, his readers made 30%… then 59%… then 18%… and then 29%. Four winning trades in just over two weeks during the worst crash since COVID. Now he's issuing a major buy alert connected to Trump’s next move. Click here to get the details because Larry says hundreds of billions of dollars are about to flow into ONE opportunity – and most investors have no idea it’s coming.


image

TODAY, March 12, at 2 p.m. ET
Jeff's Urgent Nvidia Warning

"I believe a March 16 announcement from Nvidia will send hundreds of popular companies crashing… But if you're prepared, you could use it to make up to more than 10 times your money. I'm sharing the details in a few hours, at 2 p.m. ET. You'll get the name of a bullish pick and a bearish pick, just for attending." – Jeff Brown
Click here to register with a single click >>>
(When you click the link, your email address will automatically be added to Jeff's guest list.)


Stagflation Has Arrived

I warned you six months ago that the Fed could soon face a dual threat to inflation and the labor market.

The dreaded “stagflation” scenario is now on our doorstep, especially following the events in the Middle East.

Commodities rallies put upward pressure on inflation. The Fed’s own research suggests that every $10 per barrel rise in oil adds 0.2% to inflation.

And it’s not just oil prices. Oil flows through to things like gas prices and jet fuel. The Middle East is also a key producer of ingredients for farm fertilizers, which could impact food prices.

At the same time, conditions in the labor market appear to be getting worse. The most recent payroll report for February showed a loss of 92,000 jobs versus estimates for a gain of 50,000.

That continues a trend of stalling job creation since the start of 2025. Take a look at the chart below, which tracks monthly job creation:

chart

(Click here to expand image)

A worsening labor market coupled with rising inflation is a rare event. After all, inflation is often high when unemployment is low. That points to a strong economy. Meanwhile, inflation is usually low and falling when unemployment is high or when the economy is weak.

The Fed faces a dilemma. Either it will be forced to fight inflation and risk making the economy worse. Or the central bank can keep policy loose to support the economy… but let inflation get out of control.

The last time the Fed encountered this type of situation, volatility across major asset classes surged higher.

We’re already seeing a return of volatility across numerous markets. But if the stagflation scenario worsens, history suggests there is more to come…

Tune in to Trading With Larry Live

chart

Each week, Market Wizard Larry Benedict goes live to share his thoughts on what’s impacting the markets. Whether you’re a novice or expert trader, you won’t want to miss Larry’s insights and analysis. Even better, it’s free to watch.

Simply visit us on YouTube at 8:30 a.m. ET, Monday through Thursday, to catch the latest.

All Signs Point to Volatility

The last time the economy faced a severe stagflation scenario was during the 1970s. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that conflict with the Middle East played a pivotal role back then as well.

Monetary policy went haywire, with the Fed cutting rates as low as 3.3%... and then pushing them as high as 19%.

That drove incredible whipsaws across numerous markets.

During the 1970s, investors faced a lost decade, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average went nowhere from 1966 to 1982.

In between, the Dow saw four rallies of 30% or more during that stretch. Two of those bull runs topped 70% gains. The index also experienced three bear markets, with the worst instance dropping 46%.

Precious metals look like a safe place to hide… until you realize that gold is subject to large price swings as well. While gold is remembered for soaring during the 1970s, it also suffered a 48% loss in the middle of the uptrend.

And forget about bonds if inflation takes off. During the same time frame, the Dow went nowhere, the yield on the 10-year Treasury started at 4.65% and went as high as 15% (recall that bond prices fall when yields rise).

If you’re a buy-and-hold investor or saving for retirement, I can’t imagine a worse scenario than stagflation.

But for traders with the right approach, this is the type of volatility that can deliver some of the most profitable trading opportunities that you’ll ever see.

I’ve weathered my fair share of turbulent markets over my 40+ year trading career. So if you want to see how I approach trading and receive a monthly report breaking down the macro themes impacting the markets, then consider checking out One Ticker Trader. You can learn more about how to join right here.

Happy Trading,

Larry Benedict
Editor, Trading With Larry Benedict

Free Trading Resources

Have you checked out Larry’s free trading resources on his website? It contains a full trading glossary to help kickstart your trading career – at zero cost to you. Just click here to check it out.

The Opportunistic Trader
1125 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201
www.opportunistictrader.com

To ensure our emails continue reaching your inbox, please add our email address to your address book.

This editorial email containing advertisements was sent to katzronnie7@gmail.com because you subscribed to this service. To stop receiving these emails, click here.

The Opportunistic Trader welcomes your feedback and questions. But please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized advice.

To contact Customer Service, call toll free Domestic/International: 1-888-208-6550, Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm ET, or email us here.

© 2026 Omnia Research, LLC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution of our content, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Omnia Research, LLC.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

No comments:

Post a Comment