KOSPI closes 0.62% higher at 5,683.80 after volatile US election session
Published on 11/04/2026 at 19:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKOSPI recovers after sharp swings
- The KOSPI closed at 5,683.80 on November 4, 2026, up 0.62 percent from the previous session.
- The index moved between 5,828.13 and 5,421.72 as investors assessed early US midterm election results.
- Battery, pharmaceutical and banking shares gained, while major semiconductor stocks declined.
- Foreign investors sold a net 2.5 trillion won, while institutions and individual investors bought shares.
The KOSPI ended Wednesday's Seoul trading session at 5,683.80, gaining 35.01 points or 0.62 percent from the November 3 close of 5,648.79. The benchmark initially rose sharply but later reversed direction before recovering in afternoon trading. Yonhap News Agency reported the closing level and the session's market drivers.
Election results drive sharp reversal
The index opened at 5,786.13, up 2.43 percent from the previous close, and climbed as high as 5,828.13. It then fell as low as 5,421.72, a decline of 4.02 percent from the previous close, before ending back in positive territory. The wide range reflected changing expectations as early results from the US midterm elections pointed to Democratic victories in both chambers of Congress.
Investors considered the possibility of tighter regulation for artificial-intelligence data centers and changes to other policies of the Trump administration. At the same time, expectations for continued support for renewable energy and secondary batteries helped lift parts of the market. The result was a split session rather than a broad-based technology rally.
Batteries and banks outperform chips
Battery and pharmaceutical stocks were among the strongest performers. LG Energy Solution rose 5.03 percent to 355,000 won, while Samsung SDI advanced 11.57 percent to 545,000 won. Samsung Biologics gained 2.96 percent and Celltrion rose 5.32 percent. Hana Financial Group added 0.86 percent and KB Financial Group edged up 0.07 percent.
Semiconductor shares moved in the opposite direction. Samsung Electronics fell 0.68 percent to 218,000 won and SK hynix declined 0.14 percent to 1.4 million won. Hyundai Motor gained 2.16 percent, while Kia dropped 0.83 percent, underscoring the uneven performance across major sectors.
Foreign selling remains a market factor
Foreign investors sold a net 2.5 trillion won in Korean shares during the session. Institutions bought a net 1.01 trillion won and individual investors bought 1.15 trillion won, helping the index recover from its intraday low. The figures point to strong domestic buying, but they also show that foreign selling remained a significant counterweight.
For investors, the session highlighted the sensitivity of South Korean equities to both US technology-investment expectations and election-driven policy signals. The next market move will depend on whether support for batteries and other policy-sensitive sectors can offset continued pressure on chip stocks. Further KOSPI coverage is available on the KOSPI topic page.
