KOSPI plunges 5.46% as AI fears rattle markets

Korea's KOSPI index plummeted 5.46% on Tuesday, dipping below the 6,000 point threshold as concerns surrounding the artificial intelligence sector unsettled global investors. This more substantial decline compared to other Asian markets underscored the Korean stock market's susceptibility to market fluctuations. The KOSPI concluded at 6,035.35, a 5.46% decrease from the previous trading day, following an opening decline of 3.10% to 6,186.08.

The index plummeted as low as 5,911.11 throughout the day, marking its inaugural intraday dip below 6,000 since a market crash in late July, which prompted consecutive circuit breaker activations due to stocks falling over 8%. Early that morning, a sell-sidecar mechanism was initiated for the first time in nearly two months, following the KOSPI 200 futures' decline of over 5% from the prior session.

The market's downward spiral was fueled by apprehensions about the semiconductor boom driven by the demand for AI data centers, causing significant losses for leading Korean chip manufacturers. Samsung Electronics plummeted 7.39% to finish at 232,000 won, while SK Hynix fell 10.09% to 1.443 million won. Other major Asian markets experienced milder losses, with Japan's Nikkei 225 slipping 1.82% and Taiwan's Taiex falling 1.95%.

The KOSPI's more pronounced decline can be attributed to domestic market factors, such as reduced investment inflows and a dwindling number of buyers. Foreign investors, specifically, engaged in net selling of 4.5 trillion won (US$3.1 billion) worth of Korean equities on Tuesday.