The benchmark KOSPI dropped 3.23% to around 5,284 on Friday, its third consecutive decline and the lowest close in three weeks, as investor sentiment turned sharply risk‑averse. South Korean equities tracked the overnight selloff on Wall Street, where mixed signals over Middle East diplomacy left markets uncertain about the trajectory of negotiations.
A brief easing of immediate risks offered only modest support. Washington extended its halt on strikes against energy infrastructure by 10 days, through early April, which helped steady oil prices at the margin but did little to dispel broader caution. Constantly shifting headlines have kept investors on edge over whether regional tensions will ultimately de‑escalate or intensify.
Semiconductor names were a major drag on the index, with Samsung Electronics down 4.22% and SK Hynix falling 5.47%. Heavy losses also hit industrial and energy‑related stocks, including Doosan Enerbility (-5.60%), Hanwha Ocean (-6.05%), and HD Hyundai Electric (-7.56%).
