The past hour was defined by a convergence of heightened geopolitical tension and a sharp market correction in the technology sector. In the Middle East, the security situation escalated, with U.S. and Saudi forces conducting joint strikes against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, while U.S. Central Command confirmed the interception of ballistic missiles launched by Iran at American facilities. Concurrently, Asian markets experienced a severe downturn, as South Korea’s KOSPI index tumbled by as much as 12% and chipmakers like SK Hynix and NXP suffered significant share price declines as AI-related earnings failed to satisfy elevated investor expectations. While major banks like Standard Chartered and UBS reported earnings beats, these financial results were overshadowed by broader concerns over AI sector stability and the escalating conflict in the region.