AI-fueled Asian markets cool after stellar run

South Korea's KOSPI has dropped 21% in the past month, Taiwan's benchmark is down 7%, and Japan's Nikkei 225 has slipped 9%, cooling Asia's hottest markets. Despite the pullback, South Korea and Taiwan remain the year's biggest winners, each up around 50% in 2026, driven by the AI and semiconductor boom. India's Nifty 50 has slipped into the red, with experts attributing the shift to earnings momentum and valuation differences.