South Korean Chip Stocks Plunge as AI Spending Concerns and China Competition Shake Market 
BOJ Expected to Hold Rates Steady While Signaling More Hikes Ahead 
Singapore Central Bank’s Exchange Rate Policy Explained: Why MAS Uses the S$NEER Instead of Interest Rates 
India GDP Growth Forecast Cut as Weak Investment, High Oil Prices Weigh on Economy 
Eurozone Bond Yields Fall as Oil Slump Eases Inflation Fears Ahead of Central Bank Meetings 
Oman Proposes Strait of Hormuz Plan as U.S., Iran Remain Divided Over Shipping Fees 
Chile Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 4.5% as Inflation and Global Risks Persist 
US Stock Futures Rise as Oil Falls, Nvidia Eyes $250 Billion OpenAI Data Center Deal 
Oil Prices Extend Slide as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Supply Fears 
RBA Signals More Rate Hikes Possible as Australia Battles Stubborn Inflation 
Gold Prices Fall 1% Ahead of Fed Decision as Markets Watch Warsh, Iran Talks 
Dollar Holds One-Month High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow, Yen Remains Under Pressure 
Australia Inflation Cools as Core CPI Misses Forecasts, Easing RBA Rate Hike Pressure 
Asian Stocks Sink as AI Spending Fears and China Chip Advances Hit Tech Shares 
US Stock Futures Slip Ahead of Fed Decision, Big Tech Earnings Amid Middle East Tensions 
European Natural Gas Prices Sink as Middle East Tensions Ease, Oil Slumps 
Asian stock markets posted steep losses on Wednesday as a sharp technology sector selloff continued for a second day, with South Korea leading regional declines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy announcement and earnings reports from major U.S. technology companies.
Investor sentiment also weakened after Iran launched fresh missile attacks targeting U.S. forces, driving oil prices higher and renewing concerns about inflation and the outlook for global interest rates. The escalating geopolitical tensions added pressure to already fragile markets after a mixed Wall Street session, where gains in the Dow Jones contrasted with losses in the Nasdaq. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.4%, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1%.
South Korea’s KOSPI plunged more than 8%, extending Tuesday’s heavy losses and leaving the benchmark down roughly 34% from its recent peak. Analysts said the sharp correction could tighten domestic financial conditions enough to influence future monetary policy. Chipmaker SK Hynix dropped over 10% despite reporting record quarterly profits fueled by strong demand for AI memory chips. Samsung Electronics declined more than 5%, while LG Innotek fell nearly 11%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 also lost around 2% as semiconductor and electronics stocks remained under pressure. Kioxia Holdings fell almost 8%, Murata Manufacturing slid more than 13%, and TDK continued its decline. Sony Group outperformed the sector, rising more than 3%. Investors also remained concerned that China’s expanding semiconductor industry could increase competition for Japanese and South Korean chipmakers.
Chinese markets recorded more moderate losses, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng falling about 1.5% and both the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 losing over 0.5%. Taiwan’s benchmark index dropped nearly 4% as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) and Foxconn both fell more than 2%. TSMC also confirmed that operations at its Kumamoto plant in Japan had resumed following a powerful earthquake.
Australia stood out as the region’s strongest performer. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed to its highest level since early April after weaker-than-expected inflation data reduced expectations of another Reserve Bank of Australia rate hike. Rio Tinto gained nearly 5% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings.
Markets are now focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, where rates are widely expected to remain unchanged. Investors will also closely watch comments from Fed officials and quarterly earnings from Microsoft and Meta Platforms for further direction on interest rates, artificial intelligence spending, and broader market sentiment.
