Oil prices also affect the financial markets and risk of different countries and regions. Financial markets are the places where financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities, are traded and priced. Oil prices affect financial markets by changing the expectations, sentiments, and behaviors of investors, traders, and speculators. Higher oil prices tend to increase the volatility and uncertainty of financial markets, by creating inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, and supply shocks. Higher oil prices tend to benefit the financial assets of oil-producing sectors and regions, such as energy companies, oil funds, and the Middle East, and harm the financial assets of oil-consuming sectors and regions, such as airlines, consumers, and Europe. Lower oil prices tend to have the opposite effect.
Risk is the possibility of losing money or value in an investment or a transaction. Oil prices affect risk by changing the risk appetite and risk premium of market participants. Risk appetite is the willingness of investors and traders to take on more or less risk in their portfolios, depending on their expectations and preferences. Risk premium is the additional return that investors and traders demand for holding a risky asset, compared to a risk-free asset, such as a government bond. Higher oil prices tend to reduce the risk appetite and increase the risk premium of market participants, by increasing the uncertainty and instability of the economic and financial environment. Lower oil prices tend to increase the risk appetite and reduce the risk premium of market participants, by improving the economic and financial outlook and confidence.