Analysis

Higher-than-expected U.S. PPI data sparked fears of interest rate hikes, driving the KOSPI and Nikkei 225 down by about 2%. Kioxia plummeted nearly 7%, while Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both followed the decline.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets plunged at the open, with the KOSPI tumbling 3.3% to fall below 6,900 points, while chip stocks plunged across the board.

The Nikkei 225 rallied late in the session to close up 0.2%, while South Korean stocks held firmly above the 7,000 mark, and Kioxia, Samsung, and SK Hynix narrowed their losses.

Oil prices breaching $100 have heightened fears of a second wave of inflation, with the KOSPI approaching 7,000 points, the Nikkei falling below 65,000, and chip stocks declining across the board.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets staged an early rally before pulling back. The KOSPI held firmly above the 7,050 mark, while the Nikkei 225 surrendered early gains to close lower, even as SoftBank and SK Hynix surged over 3%.

South Korea's KOSPI surpassed 7,000 points, while SoftBank surged 4%, leading the Nikkei 225 to turn higher after opening lower.

Surging oil prices triggered a market plunge, with the KOSPI surrendering early gains to fall below the 7,000-point mark and the Nikkei dropping 1.7%. Kioxia fell more than 3%, while SoftBank bucked the trend to surge 5%.

Japanese and South Korean markets diverged at the open. The KOSPI strongly breached the 7,000 mark, while Japanese equities adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of Japan's GDP data. SoftBank, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix continued to extend gains.

TradingKey - Although the KOSPI Index has pulled back about 27% from its record high in June, and market concerns over the sustainability of AI capital expenditures, high volatility in South Korean stocks, and the semiconductor cycle continue to escalate, Timothy Moe, Chief Asia-Pacific Equity Strategist at Goldman Sachs, has still not lowered his previously issued 12,000-point target.

The KOSPI surged 4.61% to near 7,000 points, while the Nikkei broke above 66,000 points. SoftBank soared over 11%, and Kioxia, Samsung, and SK Hynix jumped 5% to 10%.

Japanese and South Korean stocks opened higher and extended gains, with the KOSPI surging 3.5% at the open and the Nikkei 225 topping 66,000 points, as chip stocks including Samsung, SK Hynix, and Kioxia surged across the board.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed strongly higher, as Samsung and SK Hynix drove the KOSPI up nearly 2%. The Nikkei reclaimed the 65,000-point level, with SoftBank surging 12% and Kioxia gaining over 5%.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets opened sharply higher, with the KOSPI reclaiming the 6,600-point mark. SoftBank surged 7%, while chip stocks such as Samsung and SK Hynix rose across the board.

Reports of U.S. semiconductor tariffs reportedly triggered a sharp plunge in Japanese and South Korean stock markets, prompting the South Korean presidential office to urgently intervene to defuse risks and stabilize the market. The KOSPI narrowly held the 6,500 mark, while losses in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix narrowed.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets rebounded from early lows, with Kioxia surging over 2%, while Samsung and SK Hynix gained more than 1.5% to support the market.

Surging crude oil prices have sparked inflation fears, sending Japanese and South Korean stock markets tumbling. SoftBank plunged over 6%, while Samsung and SK Hynix both dropped more than 4%.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets crashed at the open, with the Nikkei plunging more than 1,500 points and South Korean stocks tumbling 2.84%, as Samsung, SK Hynix, and SoftBank all suffered heavy losses.

The Nikkei closed slightly lower, while the KOSPI opened lower and moved higher to reclaim the 6,800 mark, driven by gains in semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix. Kioxia surged more than 2%.

TradingKey - On September 1, Asia-Pacific time, the South Korean government unveiled its 2027 budget proposal, with total expenditure reaching 820.9 trillion won (approximately $597 billion), up 12.8% year-on-year. This marks a record high for South Korea's annual budget growth, surpassing the 10.6% recorded during the 2009 global financial crisis.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets both tumbled at the open. South Korean stocks fell 1.05%, breaching the 6,800-point mark, while the Nikkei dropped over 1%, with heavyweight chip stocks opening lower across the board.