Australian S&P/ASX 200 closed down 9.20 points, or 0.11%, at 8,718.70 on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Zhejiang University says Chinese researchers have for the first time identified an interlayer folded 'buckle' structure and mechanism in graphene membranes that enables simultaneous improvement in strength, toughness and elasticity. The study, which addresses the long-standing strength–toughness trade-off by moving beyond traditional planar stacking to construct interlocking folded layers, was published online in Nature at 23:00 Beijing time on the 14th.

European chip and other AI-related stocks fell sharply, tracking overnight US and Asian declines. As of 15:26 Beijing time the Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 3.5%, hitting a more-than-three-week low and leading losses across Stoxx 600 sectors. Heavyweights ASML, STMicroelectronics, BE Semiconductor Industries (BESI), Infineon and ASM International dropped about 6.5%–9.8%. Wafer makers and equipment suppliers including Soitec, Aixtron, Technoprobe and SUSS MicroTec fell roughly 9%–11%. Other AI-linked names such as Nokia, Prysmian, Legrand, Schneider Electric and ABB declined about 4%–7%.