South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers 20-Minute Halt as Losses Top 8%

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell more than 8% Thursday, Oct. 15, prompting a 20-minute trading halt as the decline extended a regional selloff that hit Japan and Taiwan. The index opened 5.59% lower before selling accelerated during the afternoon. Trading resumed after 20 minutes, and the KOSPI closed at 5,554.22. Samsung Electronics fell 9.48%, while SK Hynix lost 11.06%. Foreign investors have pulled about $131 billion from South Korean equities so far this year. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix accounted for 87% of net foreign selling on the KOSPI through Oct. 12.

Source: TokenPost