KOSPI Circuit Breaker Triggers Broad Asian Sell‑off Amid Tech Decline

The South Korean benchmark, the KOSPI, plunged to a 12‑month low, sparking a circuit‑breaker halt that sent ripples across the region. Tech names led the rout, dragging the index down 1.6% before the exchange paused trading at the 3% threshold. The pause came amid a broader sell‑off in Asian equities, with the Nikkei and Hang Seng also posting declines.

While equities faltered, precious metals rallied. Gold edged up to $4,137.79 a ounce, its highest level in months, gaining 0.79%. Silver followed suit, trading at $56.29, up 0.73%. Energy prices slipped; West Texas Intermediate crude fell to $94.05 a barrel, a 1.09% drop, while Brent slid to $104.36, down 1.60%. Base metals were in the red as well, with copper trading at $6.5620, down 1.47%, and aluminium at $2,963.65, down 0.87%. Natural gas, however, showed resilience, rising to $3.257 a million British thermal units, up 1.78%.

Analysts warn that the tech‑heavy KOSPI’s slide reflects broader concerns over valuation and potential regulatory pressure, and they caution that the circuit‑breaker may be a harbinger of further volatility in Asian markets.