The Hang Seng dropped by 1.8% when markets opened, the Tech Index fell by 3.1% and the mainland’s CSI 300 Index slipped 3.1%.

The sell-off was biggest in South Korea, where the Kospi index sank as much as 7 per cent. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Asian stocks fell as the AI rally cooled, oil prices surged on Middle East tensions, and stronger US jobs data fueled interest rate concerns.