Global technology stocks have suffered their steepest decline since March, marking a significant stress test for the artificial intelligence-driven rally that has defined market performance earlier this year.

The sell-off represents a broad-based retreat from recent highs, challenging the narrative of uninterrupted growth in the sector.

The downturn was triggered by aggressive profit-taking in Asian equity markets, which staged a sharp reversal from record levels.

The Kospi index in South Korea was among the hardest hit, tumbling as investors locked in gains after a prolonged bull run.

This regional weakness quickly spilled over to Western markets, where tech-heavy indices struggled to find support.

On Wall Street, the selling pressure extended into the European session, with global equity markets continuing their decline.