Tokyo, 27 April 2026 – Asian financial markets are sending two very different messages. On trading screens, investors continue to chase artificial intelligence, semiconductor and technology-linked stocks. On the ground, households and businesses are facing a more uncomfortable reality: the Iran war is pushing energy-security concerns back to the centre of Asia’s cost-of-living debate.
The contrast has become one of the defining economic stories for the region. Equity markets in parts of North Asia have remained resilient, supported by enthusiasm over artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics and advanced manufacturing. Yet that market optimism does not fully reflect the pressure being felt by consumers, workers and smaller businesses across Asia.
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