Can we lastly cease worrying in regards to the inventory market crash and begin having enjoyable?

Ever for the reason that US attacked Iran on 28 February, traders have warned about an imminent inventory market crash. It nonetheless hasn’t occurred.

Iran isn’t the one factor worrying markets. There’s fixed chatter about a man-made intelligence bubble as hyperscalers pour trillions into infrastructure, whereas big potential IPOs comparable to SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic gas the frenzy. Then there’s the shadow banking sector, which has already induced painful losses for 2 main FTSE 100 banks, Barclays and HSBC Holdings. There’s all the time one thing to fret about.

Iran seemed the largest hazard as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz risked triggering a historic power shock. Yet the FTSE 100 rose 2.66% final week. It’s up 5.18% this 12 months. That’s not spectacular, however hardly a catastrophe both.

Why aren’t traders extra anxious?

It’s a financial institution vacation in the present day (25 May), in any other case I think markets could be flying on reviews that Donald Trump says he’s struck a cope with Iran. It has apparently agreed to give up uranium and open Hormuz. I wouldn’t assume something is settled although. The uncertainty may simply drag on. That doesn’t imply we will’t get pleasure from ourselves although.

There’s all the time one thing to fret about. If it wasn’t Iran, it will be AI, shadow banking, the Labour management, poor productiveness, toppy valuations, no matter. It’s greatest to look previous that, and stick with the basics.

At The Twelfth Magpie, we choose to purchase particular person shares reasonably than observe the index. A key benefit is that regardless of the state of the general market, there are all the time bargains to be discovered. That’s why I purchased HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA) on 5 May.

Are HSBC shares nonetheless value shopping for?

I’d wished the inventory for ages however feared I’d missed my second. HSBC shares have climbed roughly 210% over 5 years and sometimes yielded round 5% too.

Higher rates of interest boosted earnings throughout the banking sector by widening lending margins. Asia-focused HSBC has benefited enormously from that international development, making big pre-tax earnings:

• 2025 – $29.91bn

• 2024 – $32.31bn

• 2023 – $30.35bn

• 2022 – $17.06bn

• 2021 – $18.91bn

As you possibly can see, earnings dipped barely in 2025 however that adopted a document 2024, and was largely attributable to one-off impairments. I swooped after its shares dipped greater than 5% on mildly disappointing Q1 2026 outcomes, which confirmed rising prices and credit score losses. Its beneficiant share buyback coverage stays on maintain.

Can it ship over the long run?

I believed it was a superb alternative to get in at a barely diminished valuation. I’m already up 5% however these are early days. As with each inventory I purchase, I’ll measure my success in years.