The Russian bear attacks the stock market bull

Since the beginning of the year, stock markets have been struggling after having recorded incredible performances for almost two years and the express crash due to the pandemic. If inflationary fears and their consequences on monetary policy are at the origin of a return of risk aversion, geopolitics has made its return to the forefront.

The troublemaker this time is not Xi Jinping's China, but Vladimir Putin's Russia. By massing troops at the Ukrainian border and sending mixed signals about its intensions, the master of the Kremlin is also trying to destabilize markets.

The bear is both the symbol of a bearish stock market and one of the mascots of Russia, which has the right to claim it. Perched on his Russian bear, Vlad is putting investors on edge.

*Attack! (Drawing by Amandine Victor)