Asia Sells Off on U.S. Tech Rout

Asian markets fell broadly on Friday, with South Korea’s Kospi leading regional declines after a sharp overnight selloff in U.S. technology stocks spilled into global trading. The Kospi dropped 5.01%, hit by steep losses in heavyweight semiconductor names Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while the smaller Kosdaq also fell sharply. Japan’s Nikkei 225, Australia’s ASX 200, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, and China’s CSI 300 also weakened, though India’s Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex were modestly higher. The article links the regional weakness to a rotation in U.S. markets away from chip and other AI-linked stocks and into non-tech names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to a record close, while the Nasdaq underperformed after Broadcom’s disappointing revenue report sparked a broader semiconductor selloff. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF, Arm Holdings, and Micron Technology all declined significantly. Beyond the tech-sector reversal, investors were also cautious because of persistent Middle East tensions and unclear progress in efforts to end the conflict, which has raised oil and gasoline prices and unsettled global markets. Overall, the piece frames Asian market losses as part of a broader global risk-off mood driven by tech-sector weakness and geopolitical uncertainty.

Asian technology shares fell sharply on Friday after a weak earnings report from Broadcom triggered a broader sell-off in U.S. semiconductor stocks and shifted investor sentiment away from artificial intelligence-linked names. The decline spread across major Asian chip and tech markets, with South Korea seeing the heaviest pressure because of its concentration in semiconductor-related companies. Samsung Electronics fell nearly 7% and SK Hynix dropped more than 8%, while other Korean tech names such as Samsung SDI, LG Display, LG Innotek, and Seoul Semiconductor also recorded steep losses. Japanese semiconductor and technology stocks were likewise hit, including double-digit-style declines for some leading names, though the report notes more moderate losses for companies like Murata Manufacturing and Fanuc. In Taiwan, several hardware and component makers declined as well, including Hon Hai Precision Industry, Pegatron, and Largan Precision, while TSMC managed to edge slightly higher and diverged from the broader trend. The article ties the Asian market weakness to an overnight U.S. sell-off, noting that Broadcom fell more than 12% after missing fiscal second-quarter revenue expectations, which in turn pressured the VanEck Semiconductor ETF, Arm Holdings, and Micron Technology. A market strategist quoted in the piece described the pullback as a needed correction after a period of massive gains, suggesting recent winners required a reset.

U.S. stock futures moved slightly lower Thursday night as investors awaited Friday morning’s May nonfarm payrolls report, which is expected to show a sharp slowdown in hiring and a steady unemployment rate. The article frames the market as balancing strong recent gains against caution ahead of key economic data, while also noting a sharp after-hours drop in Lululemon after the company cut guidance. During the regular session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 874.86 points to a record close, helped by a rotation away from technology stocks, while the S&P 500 rose modestly and the Nasdaq Composite slipped. Market participants are watching whether the labor data will confirm a cooling economy and influence expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The article also highlights broader global and policy developments affecting market sentiment. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi led regional losses after Wall Street’s weakness in AI-linked technology names spilled over overnight, dragging other major indexes lower. Separately, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to meet Iran’s supreme leader if it could help make a deal, amid an extended and fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and conflict. Another market-structure note explains that S&P Dow Jones Indices will not change its index eligibility rules, preserving the 12-month IPO seasoning requirement, which could delay fast-growing companies such as SpaceX from joining major benchmarks soon. Overall, the piece is a live market update focused on trading moves, macroeconomic anticipation, and company-specific catalysts.