A recent FT survey shows 58% of U.S. voters believe the Iran conflict was not worth the cost, while 44% say it left the U.S. weaker in the region. 66% view the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding as unlikely to influence peace. The poll also found 53% support retaining U.S. NATO membership, compared with 23% favoring withdrawal.

The findings arrive amid a high‑profile NATO summit in Ankara, where leaders face Russia’s renewed aggression in Ukraine. Trump’s repeated threats to exit NATO could strain the alliance, prompting European leaders to seek greater autonomy. Investors watch the summit for signals on defense spending and alliance stability.

Meanwhile, SoftBank has surpassed Toyota to become Japan’s most valuable company, a shift driven by Masayoshi Son’s AI investments. The move highlights shifting capital flows toward tech‑driven growth. In the emulator space, Honeywell’s Solstice Advanced Materials is negotiating a $27 bn merger with Element Solutions, potentially creating a dominant advanced‑materials supplier.

These developments underscore how public opinion, geopolitical tensions, and corporate rebalance affect market expectations and capital allocation decisions.