Explained: How AI-led Kospi, Nikkei selloff sparked record 15% drawdown in Asian funds in July

Asia’s major multi-strategy funds suffered sharp July losses as an AI-linked stock selloff across Japan, South Korea and China erased much of their 2026 gains. Concerns over AI spending and Middle East tensions hit semiconductor stocks, with some funds losing 3%-9%, while Goldman Sachs estimated a record 15.2% monthly decline for Asia’s primary stock-picking hedge funds.