Stock Drops

• Indian stock markets ended in the red on August 4, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 210 points and the Nifty slipping 159 points. • The decline was driven by investor caution surrounding a new F&O closing-auction mechanism, rising crude oil prices, and weekly derivatives expiry. • Markets are currently awaiting the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) policy announcement, with traders focusing on the central bank's commentary regarding inflation risks and liquidity.

• Asia-Pacific markets experienced a stark divide on July 29, with South Korea's KOSPI plunging over 5% and triggering a circuit breaker. • The sell-off was driven by a crash in memory and chip equipment stocks, while Taiwan's market dropped below the 40,500 level. • Conversely, several regional markets hit record highs, including Singapore's Straits Times Index at 5,640 points and New Zealand's NZX 50 at 13,991 points.

• US stock markets showed mixed results on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones trading flat while the Nasdaq dropped over 1%. • The decline in the Nasdaq was primarily driven by heavy selling of semiconductor and chip stocks, a trend mirrored across global markets. • Oil prices continued to fall, retreating from the two-month highs they had reached the previous week.

• South Korea’s Kospi index plummeted nearly 5% on Monday as investors sold off stocks linked to artificial intelligence. • In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 2.1% to 25,105.78 and the Shanghai Composite gained 1.2% to 3,808.39. • Taiwan’s Taiex remained relatively stable, edging down less than 0.1% while TSMC climbed 2% following a 7.3% drop on Friday.

• South Korea's Kospi index plummeted 4.5% as investors aggressively sold off stocks linked to artificial intelligence. • Other Asian markets showed mixed results, with Taiwan's Taiex falling 0.5% and the Shanghai Composite edging 0.1% lower, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.7% to 24,984.24. • TSMC shares climbed 1.3% following a previous 7.3% drop triggered by the company's announcement to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. chipmaking capacity.

• South Korea's Kospi index plummeted nearly 5% as investors aggressively sold off stocks linked to artificial intelligence. • In contrast, Taiwan's Taiex remained relatively stable, edging down less than 0.1% supported by a 2% rise in TSMC shares. • Other regional markets showed strength, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rising 2.1% to 25,105.78 and the Shanghai Composite gaining 1.2% to 3,808.39.

• The UK stock market experienced a decline today, with the FTSE 100 dropping approximately 0.62% and the FTSE 250 also slipping. • The downturn is attributed to a combination of escalating tensions in the Middle East, rising oil prices, and persistent concerns regarding inflation. • This decline reflects a broader trend of cautious investor sentiment as markets react to geopolitical instability and economic volatility.