WS #15440

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are escalating, marked by Iran's claim of lost control over the Strait of Hormuz and active UAV strikes in the Mykolaiv region. This conflict has triggered a secondary macro shock in India, where the RBI shifted to a tightening stance, causing the rupee to hit a five-month low and Indian equities to decline. Concurrently, the US government is moving to restrict Nvidia chip exports to Chinese entities, adding a layer of trade friction to the tech sector. In corporate news, the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger has officially closed, and SpaceX is raising $40B for Nvidia hardware, signaling massive capital deployment in AI and media consolidation.