In brief
The KOSPI and KOSDAQ both opened strongly on November 4, 2026, led by technology stocks amid anticipation of U.S. midterm results. Overnight U.S. markets, particularly the Nasdaq, also rose on strong chip shares. A conflicting early‑day figure from a finance portal reported the KOSPI at a slightly higher level, underscoring the dispersion in market data. The eventual effect of the U.S. election on South Korean markets remains unknown.
On November 4, 2026, South Korean stocks opened sharply higher, driven by gains in technology shares as investors awaited the U.S. mid‑term election that could shape President Donald Trump’s policy agenda. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 137.34 points, or 2.43 percent, to 5,786.13 at the opening bell, according to Yonhap.
Tech‑heavy U.S. stocks also moved higher overnight. The Nasdaq gained 0.83 percent on robust chip shares, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.36 percent, and the PHLX chip index rose 2.63 percent.
The Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) index mirrored the upside, advancing 11.35 points to 715.74, again per Yonhap reporting. These gains were largely attributed to technology‑sector stocks ahead of the forthcoming U.S. election results.
A second early‑day figure, reported by a finance portal, placed the KOSPI at 5,808.25, up 2.82 percent, indicating a slight divergence in the reported value. That source also cited a 2.63 percent rise in the chip sector as a key driver of the rebound to the 5,800 level.
Voting in the U.S. mid‑term elections began on Tuesday, and market participants are closely watching the outcomes for potential shifts in U.S. policy that could influence trade, technology regulation, and broader economic conditions for South Korea.
While the immediate market reaction to technology gains was positive, the longer‑term impact of the U.S. election on Korean equities, especially those in the technology and semiconductor sectors, is still uncertain. No single source has confirmed whether the gains will hold after the U.S. results are announced or how they will translate into policy changes. The market remains in a state of readiness for a range of possible outcomes, underscoring the uncertainty that has shaped investor sentiment so far.
