It may have started in Europe, but the mounting energy crisis is going global as a combination of factors affecting supply
and a post-pandemic surge in demand create a perfect storm.

There are two main upshots. First, the increased cost of energy could threaten to stop the post-Covid rebound in its tracks, increasing costs for businesses and affecting consumers’ ability to spend.

Second, it will only add to inflationary pressures, which could in turn force central banks to tighten monetary policy, providing a further hit to economic prospects.

This combination effectively adds up to stagflation – with prices rising at a time when the economy is shrinking. This would be negative for most asset classes including stocks and shares.

The current crisis is unlikely to be at its peak, given temperatures are yet to really drop. Governments, businesses and consumers around the world will be praying for a mild winter.

According to investment bank Bank of America, natural gas powers 40% of US and UK and 20% of EU electricity and the OECD has reported that higher shipping and commodity costs have accounted for three quarters of the jump in consumer price index inflation in G20 countries in 2021.

The current turmoil has not been bad news for everybody. Shares in Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) have hit their highest levels in 18 months as oil prices spiked to $80 per barrel, potentially exacerbating the current fuel shortages in the UK caused by a lack of HGV drivers and panic buying at the forecourt.

Shell also has significant exposure to natural gas after a shift in strategy over the last decade or so which included the £36 billion acquisition of gas-focused BG in 2016.

North Sea gas producer Serica Energy (SQZ:AIM) is up nearly 40% in the past month with the company noting an immediate benefit from the higher gas price.

The energy crisis, and some concern about the fate of US president Joe Biden’s infrastructure package as we went to press, is having a negative impact on investor sentiment.

Bank of America notes that the seven days to 23 September saw the first weekly outflow from global equities in 2021 and the largest since the March 2020 correction at $24.2 billion. It said $39.6 billion had gone into cash, $10 billion into bonds and $84 million into gold.

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