At midday, GIFT Nifty traded near 25,262, signaling a steady start for Indian equities. Asian markets were mixed - Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.3% and Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2%, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.8% on strength in semiconductor stocks after new AI chip partnerships. Investors remained cautious ahead of key U.S. inflation data and earnings reports, while upbeat momentum in tech-driven Asian indices helped offset broader concerns over global bond yields and growth outlook.