How should investors interpret geopolitical escalation in the Middle East, oil price volatility and extreme weakness in high-growth technology stocks? And is the current drawdown in artificial intelligence and enterprise software a structural reset or the next major opportunity in the stock market? In this episode of AlphaTarget PULSE, host Puru Saxena and panel examine the market impact of rising geopolitical risk, energy supply disruption and sharp rotations away from AI and semiconductor leaders. Drawing on expertise across global capital markets, software research and portfolio management, the discussion connects macro shocks to long-term structural themes in artificial intelligence, enterprise automation and cloud infrastructure. The panel explores: Geopolitics and oil markets: How conflict in the Middle East and potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz could affect inflation, global trade flows and equity market volatility, and why history suggests panic-driven selloffs in the stock market may prove short-lived. Semiconductors, robotics and capital cycles: Why South Korea’s memory-heavy index reacted sharply, what it signals for high-bandwidth memory and data center demand, and how supply chain risk intersects with the ongoing AI infrastructure buildout including emerging technologies in robotics and autonomous driving that depend on continued semiconductor innovation. AI agents, cloud computing and enterprise software: Whether AI agents represent an existential threat to traditional seat-based software models, or a catalyst for reinvention through consumption-based and outcome-driven pricing. The debate around agentic workflows, enterprise integration and long-term monetization models and what the shift toward cloud computing and ecommerce platforms means for business trends in software delivery. Valuation and portfolio strategy: Why AI and software multiples have compressed to multi-year lows, how to separate durable infrastructure and cybersecurity platforms from vulnerable application software, and what positioning may look like as productivity gains from artificial intelligence begin to materialize across the global economy. This episode provides a framework for navigating macro uncertainty while staying focused on structural growth, from artificial intelligence and semiconductor demand to enterprise automation and capital allocation in today’s evolving financial landscape. -- AlphaTarget PULSE brings you timely, institutional-grade insights on markets, business, technology and investing. Every other Friday, our Founder Puru Saxena (veteran money manager and Founder of money management firms in Hong Kong) and our highly experienced analysts (ex-Citibank, Societe Generale, Peel Hunt, Berenberg, Motley Fool) cut through the noise and dissect markets, disruptive business trends, technological developments and opportunities, revealing where the smart money is investing. AlphaTarget PULSE is a production of AlphaTarget, a premier research firm which specialises in uncovering disruptive, rapidly growing companies in the public markets, equipping investors with actionable insights to stay ahead in today’s ever-evolving business landscape. Our firm is trusted by a wide range of investors including individuals, family offices, financial advisers, funds and wealth managers and our research subscription educates and empowers investors to make smarter decisions.

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