Markets are trying to read a world where geopolitics and growth signals are colliding. The sharpest backdrop comes from the Middle East, where the US has launched further strikes on Iran after the reported killing of two American personnel in Jordan, reviving fears over retaliation and disruption to vital shipping routes. Against that uncertainty, investors are looking for cleaner market tells, and increasingly they’re finding them in South Korea, where AI- and chip-linked shares have become an early barometer of global risk appetite. In Asia, India is offering a different growth story: private banks are reporting strong results as corporate borrowers return to bank loans, while Reliance Retail is betting heavily on online expansion, dark stores, and JioMart despite near-term margin pressure. Together, the day’s business news reflects a familiar tension—capital still chasing expansion, even as conflict raises the cost of confidence.