"Nothing feels normal anymore."

War, terror, mass shootings, and personal tragedies are part of our reality. We may hope to be spared, but one thing is certain: no one goes through life without scars.

A friend said to me the other day: “Nothing feels normal anymore.” On June 10th, a tragedy shook the city of Graz. Just days later, a geopolitical conflict escalated in the Middle East. For him, it was too much. There are moments when the world feels overwhelming. When events draw so close that normality slips away and we’re left with a sense of helplessness.

A dispassionate market mechanism

And then, in the midst of geopolitical escalation, the stock market rises. It feels disconcerting. Critics are quick to weigh in: capitalism is heartless, the market cynical. But such judgments often lack nuance. Or confidence in how market economies function.

I see it differently. I find it reassuring when markets don’t immediately fall into crisis mode. Because the market mechanism is dispassionate. It asks: what are the implications for companies and profits? And if the broader system remains intact, why should prices collapse?

The resilience of markets

The stock market reflects something fundamental: the spirit of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs care. They empathize. And they think ahead - to their teams, to payrolls, to the responsibilities they carry. All of that requires economic stability. No profits, no future.

So they look for ways forward. They persevere. Even under the most adverse conditions. That strength is what the market reveals. And I hope we all find a good share of it. Especially when we need it most.