South Korean trading halted as KOSPI plunged over 11%
Goldman Sachs raised oil price forecasts amid Middle East tensions
Asian markets broadly declined on inflation and conflict fears
Mixed China PMI data added regional economic uncertainty
📖 Full Retelling
South Korean stock trading was temporarily halted on March 4, 2026, as the KOSPI index plunged more than 11% amid escalating Iran tensions and widening Middle East conflict, with Goldman Sachs simultaneously raising its oil price forecast due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and lower inventories, triggering widespread selling across Asian markets. The dramatic market collapse in South Korea came as regional investors grappled with multiple geopolitical stressors, including heightened tensions in the Middle East and mixed manufacturing data from China. The KOSPI's freefall exceeded the circuit breaker threshold that temporarily halts trading to prevent panic selling. Goldman Sachs revised its oil price projections upward, citing potential supply disruptions from the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. The investment bank's analysts noted that already tight global inventories would be further strained by any prolonged conflict in the region. Across Asia, markets reacted negatively to the confluence of negative factors, with major indices in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia all closing in the red. Investors expressed growing concerns that the Middle East conflict could trigger higher oil prices, exacerbating inflationary pressures that central banks are already struggling to control. The situation was further complicated by mixed China PMI data, which showed manufacturing activity continuing to contract while services sector expansion slowed, adding uncertainty to the region's economic outlook.
🏷️ Themes
Market Volatility, Geopolitical Risk, Energy Prices, Economic Uncertainty
A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by current in excess of that which the equipment can safely carry (overcurrent). Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent fire. Unlike a fuse, whic...
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI; Korean: 한국종합주가지수) is the index of all common stocks traded on the Stock Market Division—previously, Korea Stock Exchange—of the Korea Exchange. It is the representative stock market index of South Korea, analogous to the S&P 500 in the United States.
KOS...
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry South Korean stock trading temporarily halted as KOSPI slides over 11% Goldman lifts oil price forecast amid Hormuz disruptions, lower inventories Asia stocks slide amid Iran tensions, mixed China PMIs; S.Korea slumps 11% Stocks close in the red as widening Middle East conflict sparks inflation fears (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Form 4 Teladoc Inc For: 4 March By Filings Published 03/04/2026, 03:26 AM Form 4 Teladoc Inc For: 4 March 0 TDOC -1.16%