Why it matters
- South Korea's Kospi dropped 241.69 points, or 3.65%, to 6,384.24 in its first session since Thursday, as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix each fell more than 4%.
- Japan's stock market was closed for Sports Day, according to the Japan Exchange Group's holiday calendar, so the Nikkei 225 stays at Friday's 69,030.92.
- Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.25% and Australia's ASX 200 gained 0.76%, while China's Shenzhen Component fell 2.03% as tech hardware stocks sold off.
Session recap: what happened in this region's trading day, with sources.
South Korean stocks fell sharply on Monday, Oct. 12, while most other Asian markets moved less. The Kospi lost 241.69 points, or 3.65%, to 6,384.24, according to Yahoo Finance data. It was Seoul's first session since Thursday, after a Friday holiday. Japan's markets were closed for Sports Day, which is on the Japan Exchange Group's 2026 market holiday list.
| Market | Monday close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Kospi (South Korea) | 6,384.24 | −3.65% |
| Hang Seng (Hong Kong) | 24,271.20 | +0.25% |
| Hang Seng China Enterprises | 8,168.57 | +0.25% |
| Shanghai Composite (China) | 3,797.24 | −0.43% |
| Shenzhen Component (China) | 12,384.87 | −2.03% |
| CSI 300 (China) | 4,287.98 | −0.68% |
| S&P/ASX 200 (Australia) | 8,783.20 | +0.76% |
| Straits Times Index (Singapore) | 5,415.48 | +0.25% |
| Sensex (India) | 71,924.68 | −0.76% |
| Nifty 50 (India) | 22,363.35 | −0.70% |
| Nikkei 225 (Japan) | Closed | — |
Source: Yahoo Finance chart data. Changes are from Friday's close, or Thursday's for South Korea.
Why did the Kospi fall so much?
Chip stocks dropped on worries about high AI valuations, and foreign investors kept selling, Trading Economics reported. It said OpenAI's annualized revenue came in below what had been indicated, which raised doubts about heavy spending on chips and data centers. Renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's main airport and high U.S. Treasury yields also weighed, Trading Economics said.
Samsung Electronics fell 4.4% to 250,500 won and SK hynix 4.5% to 1,605,000 won, Yahoo Finance data showed. Doosan Enerbility dropped 8.3% and LG Electronics 7.9%.
Is the Japanese stock market open on Monday, Oct. 12?
No. The Japan Exchange Group lists Oct. 12, 2026, as Sports Day, a market holiday. Trading in Tokyo resumes Tuesday. The yen weakened to about 158.63 per dollar around 12:55 GMT, from about 158.25 late Friday, Yahoo Finance data showed.
China and Hong Kong
The Hang Seng rose 59.85 points to 24,271.20. Tencent edged up 0.2% and AIA rose 0.9%, Yahoo Finance data showed. Trading Economics said investors were watching Tencent's planned U.S. dollar bond sale and were cautious ahead of U.S. inflation data.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.43%. Trading Economics said official steps to support the market failed to lift sentiment, and a China–EU deal that could more than halve Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc raised export worries. Foxconn Industrial Internet fell 7.2% and optical-module maker Zhongji Innolight 6.6%, Yahoo Finance data showed.
Elsewhere in the region
Australia's ASX 200 rose to 8,783.20, a one-week high, Trading Economics said. BHP gained 2.4% and Rio Tinto 1.6%, Yahoo Finance data showed. Trading Economics tied the mood partly to a U.S. statement that Russia and Ukraine would not target each other's energy sites.
India's Sensex fell 0.76% before a key inflation report, Trading Economics said. Tech Mahindra dropped 2.8% and Tata Consultancy Services 1.4%, Yahoo Finance data showed.
What comes next?
European shares are higher; see our Europe Monday recap. The U.S. week, with bank earnings and consumer prices, is in our day-ahead guide. Friday's session is in the Asia Friday recap, and live levels are on the markets page.
Follow the rest of the trading day on our global market today page, with the latest Asia, Europe and Americas session recaps.
Sources
- Japan Exchange Group, Market holidays
- Trading Economics, South Korea stock market (Kospi)
- Trading Economics, Hong Kong stock market (Hang Seng)
- Trading Economics, China stock market (Shanghai Composite)
- Trading Economics, Australia stock market (ASX 200)
- Trading Economics, India stock market (Sensex)
- Yahoo Finance, chart data for the Kospi, Hang Seng, Hang Seng China Enterprises, Shanghai Composite, Shenzhen Component, CSI 300, S&P/ASX 200, Straits Times Index, Sensex, Nifty 50 and USD/JPY
- Yahoo Finance, stock chart data for Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Doosan Enerbility, LG Electronics, Tencent, AIA, Foxconn Industrial Internet, Zhongji Innolight, BHP, Rio Tinto, Tech Mahindra and Tata Consultancy Services