Asian markets plunge: Nikkei down over 2500 points, South Korea's KOSPI crashes 9.99%

Asian stock markets tumbled on June 23, 2026, with major indices in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan experiencing sharp declines. The Nikkei 225 in Japan opened higher but reversed course due to profit-taking, ultimately closing down 3.55% and shedding 2565.58 points to fall below the 70,000 mark.

South Korea's KOSPI index, after briefly surpassing 9000 points, saw a dramatic downturn. It plunged over 8% during intraday trading, triggering a circuit breaker for the fourth time this year and the tenth in its history. The index finished the day down 9.99%, losing 910.71 points to close at 8203.84.

Taiwan's stock market also suffered, opening with gains but succumbing to selling pressure after reaching a new high. Investors engaged in profit-taking, leading to a sharp decline. The main index fell 640.86 points, closing at 47100.65 and failing to hold the 48,000 level. The session saw a significant trading volume of 1.6 trillion New Taiwan dollars, with many listed companies experiencing substantial drops, including TSMC, which closed at its lowest point for the day.