Samsung and SK hynix are down 10% as AI data center fears spread. The memory side of the AI trade is getting hit first, and that read-across matters for semis broadly.

What happened: Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell about 10 percent in intraday trading Friday, dragging the Kospi below 5,000 and triggering a 20-minute trading halt three minutes into the session. Key numbers: Kospi opened at 5,263.63, down 2.2 percent. Samsung traded at 181,400 won, down 9.98 percent. Why it matters: The losses followed an overnight Wall Street selloff amid concerns about delays in AI data center construction, and Thursday's drop reflected worries that a Democrats' midterm sweep could bring tighter US regulation of AI data centers. Coverage: 5 outlets in 24h

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell about 10 percent in intraday trading Friday, dragging the Kospi below 5,000 and triggering a 20-minute trading halt three minutes into the session.

The losses followed an overnight Wall Street selloff amid concerns about delays in AI data center construction, and Thursday's drop reflected worries that a Democrats' midterm sweep could bring tighter US regulation of AI data centers.