A global chip sell-off and renewed doubts about the sustainability of AI-driven investment pushed Asian markets lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell more than 3% intraday; Kioxia dropped over 8%. South Korea's KOSPI slid for a seventh straight session, tumbling as much as 6% intraday to its lowest level since July 31. Semiconductor heavyweights led declines: Samsung Electronics down over 7%, SK Hynix down over 8%. The Korea Exchange activated a sidecar mechanism, suspending programmatic selling on the

A global chip sell-off and renewed doubts about the sustainability of AI-driven investment pushed Asian markets lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell more than 3% intraday; Kioxia dropped over 8%. South Korea's KOSPI slid for a seventh straight session, tumbling as much as 6% intraday to its lowest level since July 31. Semiconductor heavyweights led declines: Samsung Electronics down over 7%, SK Hynix down over 8%. The Korea Exchange activated a sidecar mechanism, suspending programmatic selling on the KOSPI.