2. AI spending shock from Wall Street megacaps
| Index | Decline | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Japan – Nikkei 225 | Nearly -3% | Slid ~3%, one of the hardest-hit regionally |
| South Korea – KOSPI | Nearly -4% | Chip-heavy index bore the brunt of AI selloff |
| MSCI Asia-Pacific Index | -1% (broad gauge) | Japan and Korea both dropped more than 2% |
| Australia – ASX | Slipped (within MSCI decline) | Part of broad regional weakness |
Note: Chinese and Hong Kong markets (Shanghai Composite, Hang Seng) were relatively more insulated — they saw more modest moves as Beijing stimulus hopes provided some support .
Key takeaway: The July 24 selloff was a dual shock — oil above $100 restoked inflation/rate fears and crushed bonds, while Alphabet/Tesla earnings shattered confidence in AI spending returns. Asia's export-oriented, semiconductor-heavy markets (Japan, South Korea) bore the heaviest losses.