South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index extended its losses late Monday morning, weighed down by a broad sell-off in semiconductor equities.
The decline was driven by renewed investor anxiety over energy supplies from the Middle East, where escalating conflict has disrupted market sentiment.
The Kospi’s downward trajectory tracked an overnight slump in U.S. technology shares, with Seoul’s tech-heavy market absorbing the pressure.
Semiconductor stocks, which constitute a significant portion of the index, faced particular selling pressure as traders reassessed risk amid geopolitical instability.
This marks a continuation of the recent weakness in South Korean equities, which have faced sustained downward pressure over the past few sessions.
The market’s sensitivity to external shocks remains high, with energy supply concerns acting as a primary catalyst for the current repricing.