Group 1 - The Nikkei 225 index experienced a significant drop of 3.93%, marking the largest single-day decline of the year, falling below the 17,000-point threshold [3] - The semiconductor sector was heavily impacted, with major companies like Tokyo Electron seeing stock prices plummet nearly 8%, following TSMC's downward revision of its 2024 semiconductor growth forecast [3] - A widespread sell-off occurred across all 33 industry sectors on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, indicating a rare and comprehensive market collapse [3] Group 2 - Other Asian markets also faced severe declines, with the South Korean Composite Index down 1.9%, the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index down 1.4%, and the Singapore Straits Times Index down 1.2%, highlighting a systemic decline in investor risk appetite across the region [4] - The depreciation of the yen against the dollar, which fell below 144, further pressured export-oriented companies, illustrating the dual impact of currency fluctuations on market performance [3][4] - Geopolitical risks, including ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have significantly undermined investor confidence, prompting a retreat from emerging markets to safer assets [5] Group 3 - Recent hawkish signals from multiple Federal Reserve officials regarding potential delays in interest rate cuts or even a resumption of rate hikes have contributed to market volatility and tightened global liquidity expectations [6] - The overall bleak outlook for the global economy, exacerbated by trade tensions and sluggish growth in major economies, is shaking long-term market confidence [6] - These factors are interlinked, creating a vicious cycle where geopolitical risks raise oil prices, increasing inflationary pressures, which in turn limit central bank policy options and hinder economic recovery [6]