The benchmark KOSPI recorded its largest-ever daily loss of 12.06 percent Wednesday, surpassing its previous record of 12.02 percent, which occurred after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001. The main index fell for a second consecutive day to close at 5,093.54 points, with losses accelerating amid a widening conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran, building on Tuesday’s 7.24 percent decline. The secondary bourse Kosdaq also dropped 14 percent Wednesday, compared to a 4.62 percent decline the previous day, closing at 978.44 points. The decline was sharp enough to trigger a sidecar trading curb and next-level circuit breaker on both the KOSPI and Kosdaq during intraday trading. The sidecar was activated at 9:06 a.m. on the KOSPI and 10:31 a.m. on the Kosdaq, as the KOSPI 200 and Kosdaq 150 — baskets of the top 200 and 150 stocks, respectively — dropped past the 5 percent threshold from the previous day’s close. The curb temporarily halted sell orders for five minutes before trading resumed. A circuit breaker was triggered at 11:16 a.