Regional declines led by South Korea’s KOSPI offset gains in Australian equities as semiconductor stocks weighed on sentiment.
Asian equities declined on Thursday, reversing Wall Street’s recent gains as a selloff in chipmakers pressured markets. South Korea’s KOSPI fell sharply, leading regional losses, while Australian stocks reached a record high amid mixed macroeconomic signals.
US index futures showed uneven movement, with S&P 500 futures edging up 0.18% in early trade. The divergence followed a session where improving economic data and strong corporate earnings had lifted sentiment in US markets.
The semiconductor sector’s weakness overshadowed broader market trends, with investors monitoring macroeconomic indicators for further direction.