South Korea’s main KOSPI and secondary KOSDAQ retreated after a record-setting rally. The KOSPI fell 1.2 percent to 3,835.79, and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ lost 0.9 percent to 870.90 as institutional investors took profits. Chip bellwethers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix slipped 1.8 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.3 percent to 3,904.16 amid renewed trade concerns and fears of tighter U.S. export controls on software and chip technology. Leading tech shares such as Zhongji Innolight and Suzhou TFC fell between 3 and 7 percent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.3 percent to 25,695, weighed by semiconductor names including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., which sank 3.8 percent as U.S.–China tensions and regulatory scrutiny dampened sentiment.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.9 percent to 48,866.58, extending losses after a brief rally earlier this week on expectations of fiscal stimulus. The pullback reflected broader risk-off sentiment toward global technology shares.
Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 0.6 percent to 24,482.52, supported by renewed investor interest in select tech firms, though semiconductor names such as United Microelectronics posted modest losses.
Vietnam’s VN-Index was the region’s bright spot, climbing 1.2 percent to 961.3, led by real estate and consumer discretionary stocks. Vingroup (VIC) advanced 3.9 percent, anchoring the rally.
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