World’s best-performing stock market of 2026 is the worst-performing in March

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found World’s best-performing stock market of 2026 is the worst performer in MarchThe Kospi index in South Korea drops more than 4% on the last trading day of the quarterPublished: March 31, 2026 at 5:03 a.m. ETShareResizeListen(3 min)The higher they go, the harder they fall: South Korea's KOSPI index dropped 19% in March as international investors were deterred by high valuations and retail punters deleveraged. Photo: AFP via Getty ImagesIt’s still the world’s best-performing stock market of 2026, but at this rate it won’t be for much longer. As February ended, South Korea’s seemingly invincible Kospi index was up almost 50% for the year. Come the last trading day of March, however, after a battering from energy prices and a reappraisal of its heavyweight semiconductor stocks, the Kospi KR:180721 has plummeted 19% and is on the brink of entering bear-market territory. The iShares MSCI South Korea exchange-traded fund EWY started the month at $147 but in premarket trading Tuesday was languishing at $114. About the Author Jules RimmerJules Rimmer is a markets reporter in London.Rimmer spent more than 30 years as a trader and stockbroker in financial markets, starting at Salomon Brothers in the Liar's Poker era, taking in ING Barings, Jefferies and ending it in emerging markets at Investec. He hung up his headset and pivoted to journalism in 2021.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.