<div id="readability-page-1" class="page">TradingKey - On March 4, the major stock indices of Japan and South Korea opened under pressure. South Korea's KOSPI index opened down 3.44%, with intraday losses widening to as much as 6% at one point before narrowing; South Korea's KOSPI 200 index futures fell 5%, triggering a five-minute program trading halt mechanism.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://resource.tradingkey.com/uploads/20260304/abd0854d-cd93-4104-846a-4471ca2cd712-c0a3073355664dd4a872d179e0ad541d.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="714" height="323.97749999999996" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://resource.tradingkey.com/uploads/20260304/abd0854d-cd93-4104-846a-4471ca2cd712-c0a3073355664dd4a872d179e0ad541d.png"/>Notably, the benchmark index's cumulative year-to-date gain still stands at approximately 29%.Regarding individual stocks, SK Hynix gapped down 5% at the open before rebounding to trade flat; Samsung Electronics also saw its decline narrow, though it still fell more than 2%.In the Japanese market, the Nikkei 225 index opened down 1.4% and continued to trend lower, breaking below the 55,000-point psychological level during the session. Heavyweight stocks performed poorly, with SoftBank Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) both falling nearly 4%.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://resource.tradingkey.com/uploads/20260304/c934ef3f-550f-4c12-a619-882a22da03a0-bf25fb4b9ef34165ae17b97b0a4f78e9.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="738" height="341.325" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://resource.tradingkey.com/uploads/20260304/c934ef3f-550f-4c12-a619-882a22da03a0-bf25fb4b9ef34165ae17b97b0a4f78e9.png"/>On March 3, affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East, Japanese and South Korean stocks had already plummeted: the KOSPI index closed down 7.24%, while the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX both fell more than 3%.Although U.S. stocks recovered some ground overnight following certain statements, geopolitical panic and inflation concerns have not dissipated. Asia-Pacific markets continued to face pressure today, marking the third consecutive trading session of sharp declines for the region's equities.Find out more</div>

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On March 4, Japan and South Korea's stock indices continued to decline, with South Korea's KOSPI down 3.44% and the Nikkei 225 falling below 55,000 points. The KOSPI 200 index futures dropped 5%, leading to a trading halt. Major stocks like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics saw significant losses. The previous day, geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns caused a sharp drop in both markets, with the KOSPI closing down 7.24% and the Nikkei 225 down over 3%.

Japan, South Korea Stocks Extend Decline; Nikkei 225 Falls Below 55,000