TOKYO, July 17 (Reuters) - Asian markets slid sharply on Friday, with equity benchmarks in Japan and Taiwan falling as much as 6%, as a global rout in technology stocks accelerated.

An imagined dystopia of mass unemployment fuelled by artificial intelligence, highlighted in Citrini Research's now viral report, has unsettled global markets, where a recent huge bet on the technology is starting to show cracks. Investors have dumped the shares of software companies and those in sectors vulnerable to automation. "AI capabilities improved, companies needed fewer workers, white collar layoffs increased ... it was a negative feedback loop with no natural brake," Citrini report author Alap Shah wrote.

CMC Markets PLC (CCMMF) reports significant API-driven growth, strategic partnerships, and fintech advancements, despite rising expenses and transition costs.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.24 points, or 0.2%, at 9,527.65. It had earlier traded as high as 9,593.83.

Limassol, Cyprus, October 17th, 2025, FinanceWire