Asian stock markets experienced significant declines, with the Nikkei 225 leading the downturn, falling nearly 5% as slumping AI stocks dragged global markets lower. The sell-off was triggered by worries over semiconductor stocks following negative reactions in the U.S. and the performance of chip maker TSMC. Investors faced renewed tensions in the Gulf region, which coincided with a risk-off sentiment across equities. Major markets in Tokyo and Taipei reported heavy losses, as SoftBank also tumbled over 9%. While tech stocks struggled, oil prices managed to gain amid these market challenges.