KOSPI closes 0.61% lower at 5,342.73 after volatile session
Published on 11/12/2026 at 22:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKOSPI ends volatile session lower
- The KOSPI closed at 5,342.73 on November 12, down 32.63 points or 0.61 percent.
- Reports about uncertainty surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang weighed on Korean technology shares after an initially stronger start.
- Foreign investors bought shares on a net basis, while institutions and individuals were net sellers.
South Korea's KOSPI closed lower on Thursday, November 12, after reversing early gains in a volatile session. The benchmark index ended at 5,342.73, down 32.63 points or 0.61 percent from the previous session, according to Yonhap News Agency. The decline ended a two-session rally in which the index had gained 4.39 percent on Tuesday and 2.6 percent on Wednesday.
Early gains give way to volatility
The KOSPI opened 0.2 percent higher and climbed to an intraday high of 5,458.84 before giving up its gains. Reports that Nvidia's board was considering changes involving chief executive Jensen Huang increased uncertainty for Korean companies linked to the artificial-intelligence and memory-chip supply chain. The Hankyoreh also reported that the monthly expiration of KOSPI 200 options added to the day's volatility.
The session's reversal came despite stronger overnight sentiment in U.S. technology stocks. The market's reaction therefore reflected both the external technology backdrop and company-specific uncertainty surrounding Nvidia, rather than a uniform move across the largest Korean stocks.
Institutional selling weighs on the benchmark
Investor flows were mixed. Yonhap reported net foreign buying of 370.4 billion won, while institutions sold 690.3 billion won and individual investors sold 204.3 billion won. Declining stocks outnumbered advancing shares 595 to 268, and trading volume reached 233.7 million shares worth 20.6 trillion won.
Semiconductor-related shares were generally weaker. SK hynix fell 1.80 percent to 1.25 million won, Hanmi Semiconductor declined 1.14 percent to 181,900 won, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics dropped 4.01 percent to 886,000 won. Naver, in which Nvidia is the third-largest shareholder, fell 6.43 percent to 181,800 won. Samsung Electronics provided some support, rising 0.97 percent to 208,000 won.
What investors should watch next
The close leaves the KOSPI sensitive to further news about Nvidia's leadership and its earnings outlook, as well as to positioning in the semiconductor complex. The day's options expiry and the sharp gains earlier in the week also highlight the potential for short-term swings. These factors provide market context, but do not by themselves establish the direction of the next session.
Further KOSPI market coverage is available on the KOSPI topic page.
