Taiwan's stock market fell sharply Wednesday as jumping oil prices spooked investors — bad news for stock holders, and a warning sign for other Asian markets.

• The Taiex dropped 784 points to close near 46,165, one of its rougher days this year.
• Trading was heavy, meaning a lot of investors were actively selling, not just drifting lower.
• The trigger was a spike in crude oil prices tied to worries about the Middle East.
• The US dollar rose against the Taiwan dollar the same day, another sign money is moving to safety.
• Away from the selloff, Google is expanding its Taiwan office space by 60% to support its AI buildout, and Taiwan's financial regulator says crypto rules could kick in early 2027.

Outlook: If oil keeps climbing on Middle East tensions, Taiwan's market and other export-heavy Asian markets likely stay under pressure.