Asian Stocks Plunge as Tech Sell-Off Deepens and U.S.-China Tensions Escalate

Asian stock markets tumbled on Friday, marking steep weekly losses as a global tech sell-off intensified amid valuation concerns and renewed U.S.-China tensions. Technology shares in Japan and South Korea led the decline, while investors awaited China’s October trade data for further direction.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 slumped 2.3%, heading for a 5% weekly drop as major tech stocks dragged the index lower. SoftBank Group fell 9%, while chipmaker Advantest Corp lost over 7%. In South Korea, the KOSPI index plunged nearly 3%, extending its weekly loss to more than 4%, weighed down by declines in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Analysts warned that inflated valuations in semiconductor and AI sectors may be unsustainable, fueling fears of a market correction.

The sell-off mirrored heavy losses on Wall Street overnight, where tech shares extended declines amid caution from top U.S. banking executives who warned of an equities bubble. Futures tied to U.S. indexes remained mostly flat during Asian trading hours.

Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.6% and was set to drop over 1% for the week. India’s Nifty 50 opened 1% lower, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded mostly steady.

Adding to market jitters, China’s October trade figures disappointed investors, showing a surprise drop in exports and weaker imports, signaling sluggish global demand and domestic weakness. Meanwhile, escalating U.S.-China tech tensions added pressure. Reports suggested Washington plans to block Nvidia from selling scaled-down AI chips to China, while Beijing reportedly intends to restrict foreign-made AI chips in state-funded data centers—moves that could further strain global chip supply chains.

China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indices dipped 0.2%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.2%, dragged down by a 2% slide in the Hang Seng TECH Index.