Business · Markets · 8 hrs ago
Asian stocks plunge as AI selloff deepens after US midterms
Asian markets plunged on Friday as investors sold shares tied to artificial intelligence.
Taiwan, South Korea and Japan led the losses, with their technology-heavy markets especially exposed to the AI industry.
The selling followed a steep fall in US technology stocks and came after Democrats won control of Congress in the US midterm elections.
Investors fear the election result could threaten AI growth and data-centre investment, though the sources do not detail specific policy changes.
Taiwan's Taiex fell 4.51% after opening down 8.85%, while South Korea's Kospi dropped 6.02% after trading was briefly halted.
Japan's Nikkei fell 5.96%, and major chip companies in South Korea also lost ground.
The sharp falls show how vulnerable markets are to shifts in confidence about AI, and Taiwan's financial regulator said it would consider market-stabilising measures.
Asian stocks plunged on Friday as a selloff in artificial-intelligence-related shares deepened after Democrats won the U.S. midterm elections.
Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, which have large technology sectors, led the losses.
Some indexes fell close to 9% during trading before paring their declines.
The Kospi in South Korea triggered a 20-minute trading suspension after dropping more than 8%.
The previous day, most Asian markets had risen even as several AI-related shares fell.
- Who
- Investors in Asian markets, particularly in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
- What
- Asian stocks plunged as selling in AI-related shares intensified.
- When
- Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Asian markets, including Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
- Why
- Investors feared the Democrats’ U.S. midterm victory could threaten the AI boom and investment in data centers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Most Asian markets gained after U.S. stocks rallied following the midterm elections, while several AI-related shares fell.
The Nasdaq fell 5.52% on Wall Street as investors sold AI-related stocks, according to El Universal.
Asian markets plunged, with losses approaching 9% during trading and technology-heavy markets leading the declines.
- Taiwan Taiex
- Fell 4.51% to 39,701.64 after opening down 8.85%.
- South Korea Kospi
- Closed down 6.02% at 5,059.69.
- Kospi trading halt
- A 20-minute suspension was activated after the index fell more than 8%.
- Japan Nikkei
- Fell 5.96% to 57,434.77.
- SK Hynix
- Shares fell 10.44% in South Korea.
- Taiwan’s Taiex from record high
- Down 21.46% from its October 6 peak.
5 sources
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