The FTSE100 it could rise above 10,000 points, but I don’t think we can rule out a stock market crash this year. We never can – markets tend to crash when we don’t expect it. A secret for investors? Be prepared and look for opportunities during economic downturns.

The turmoil in the Middle East is causing major nervousness in some markets as South Korea’s Kospi index has just seen a massive 12% decline. At least for now, UK and US markets are avoiding panic. The Footsie may have fallen 4% from its recent peak, but it will still rise 6% in 2026.

What should we do?

With the price of Brent crude rising to over $80 a barrel, there is a clear temptation to turn to the massive oil companies. On BPwe see the share price has risen slightly since the attacks on Iran began – and on Monday (March 2) it hit a 52-week high. However, as of this writing on March 4, it has retreated about 3% from that peak.

There is a similar story on Shell. It hit a fresh 52-week high the same day and has since fallen nearly 5%. For both major oil companies, last week’s ups and downs are turning into barely noticeable ripples on five-year share price charts. During this period, BP grew by 55% and Shell doubled.

I would say that investors considering oil stocks really need to make decisions based on the long-term outlook. And I see good arguments for both sides in this regard. BP’s forecasted dividend rate of 5% deserves particular attention. But I won’t buy any of them based on short-term shocks.

Long-term energy

What if there are energy stocks that could have a rosy future in the long term? One that also offers a huge projected dividend yield of 11%? Yes, I know, I included it in the chart above. I’m talking about a real estate investment trust (REIT) Greencoat wind in the UK (LSE: UKW), one of my favorite ISA candidates.

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The share price plummeted as companies unceremoniously abandoned all low energy and net zero emissions targets. And there’s one thing about numbers that annoys me. After February’s full-year results, the company recorded a loss in 2025. And that’s not what high-yielding dividends usually result from.

Still, management raised the dividend, saying its goal was to keep it in line with CPI inflation. We need to be vigilant, but I think it’s worth considering.

What global risk?

What I really like about Greencoat is that it is wind based. And there is no shortage of this in the UK or around the world. Almost everywhere the winds blow in one direction or another. Moreover, we have no atmospheric equivalent of the Strait of Hormuz for any nation to block.

What about the stock market crash? This is one example of how we can look for opportunities in sectors currently making headlines. Overall, I say stay serene and look for good value stocks… but I don’t see the need to rush into anything.