AI uncertainty hits global markets after US midterms

Global stock markets fell sharply Friday after Wall Street's Thursday decline, driven by investor fears over reduced AI investment following the Democratic victory in the US midterm elections. Asian markets suffered their worst drop since 2020, with the Nasdaq falling 5.52% in its worst session since April. Taiwan's Taiex index fell up to 8.85% before closing down 4.51%, while South Korea's Kospi dropped 6.02% and Japan's Nikkei lost 5.96%. Major tech firms like Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and SoftBank saw significant losses, prompting Taiwan's regulator to consider market stabilization measures. European markets opened lower Friday, with Frankfurt down 1.68% and Paris down 1.37%, extending a difficult week for global markets amid ongoing uncertainty about the artificial intelligence sector's future.