South Korea's KOSPI average daily trading value fell to 21.432 trillion won from Sept. 1 through Sept. 15, the lowest monthly level this year and less than half the 50.347 trillion won recorded in June. Average daily share volume declined to an annual low of 3.467 billion shares, while investor deposits dropped to 93.5499 trillion won as of Sept. 4 from nearly 140 trillion won in early June. Higher oil prices, elevated bond yields, policy-rate increases and uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's September meeting have weakened risk appetite. Concerns that artificial-intelligence investment could slow have also reduced momentum in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while retail investors holding losses in the two semiconductor stocks have shifted toward long-term positions, further constraining market liquidity.