Asian Markets Sink: Japan Down 2.96%, Korea Falls 0.5% Amid Weekly Losses

In Brief:

Japan’s Nikkei 225 plunges nearly 3%, logging a 1.1% loss for the week.

South Korea’s KOSPI drops 0.5%, down 1.3% this week overall.

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Asian stock markets ended the week deep in the red, with Japan and South Korea both posting notable declines amid global economic uncertainty.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed at 33,585.58, down 1,023.42 points or 2.96%, after intraday losses topped 5%. This marks a 1.1% weekly decline, reflecting investor unease amid ongoing trade tensions and a volatile global outlook.

South Korea's KOSPI index followed suit, shedding 12.58 points to end at 2,432.48, a 0.51% decline for the day and a 1.3% cumulative loss for the week.

The downturn comes as broader Asian markets react to tariff battles, rising inflation risks, and concerns over declining global demand. With U.S. and European markets also showing signs of strain, the current climate is prompting regional investors to tread cautiously.

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