SEOUL, July 13 — South Korea’s bourse operator on Monday activated a circuit breaker for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after stocks tumbled amid renewed tensions in West Asia. 

According to Yonhap News Agency, trading of KOSPI-listed shares was halted for 20 minutes.

The Korea Exchange (KRX) triggered the marketwide circuit breaker at around 1.28pm after the KOSPI plunged more than 8 per cent from the previous session’s close.

The benchmark index came under heavy selling pressure as investors remained cautious after the United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes over the status of the Strait of Hormuz.

It marked the seventh time this year that the KRX has activated a circuit breaker. — Bernama-Yonhap