South Korea's KOSPI extended intraday losses to 2.00%; SK Hynix fell 4.6% and Samsung Electronics was down 0.64%.

UBS cut its global aluminum price forecasts to $1.50/lb for 2026 and $1.42/lb for 2027. After factoring SHFE-LME discounts, UBS lowered its China aluminum price forecasts to RMB23,000/ton for 2026 and RMB22,500/ton for 2027. UBS cut 2024 earnings estimates for Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) (02600.HK) and China Hongqiao Group (01378.HK) by 15% and 13% respectively, and cut 2025 estimates by 31% and 24%. UBS reduced Chalco H-share PT to HK$14.2 from HK$17.5 and Hongqiao PT to HK$36.8 from HK$46.1; both stocks retain Buy ratings.

Ahn Cheol‑soo, a People Power Party lawmaker and former presidential candidate, called on social media for strong corrective measures including delisting of Korean leveraged ETFs that track Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. He said the KOSPI has "become a casino" and described the products as a "complete policy failure" that is eroding tens of trillions of won in corporate value and national wealth every day. His remarks have heightened policymakers' and investors' concerns about the risks of these 2x single-stock leveraged ETFs, whose mechanical rebalancing makes them buy more in rallies and sell more in declines and may amplify market volatility.