KOSPI closes 1.24% lower at 5,937.66 after Samsung earnings
Published on 10/29/2026 at 19:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKOSPI retreats after Samsung earnings
- The KOSPI closed at 5,937.66 on October 29, down 74.78 points or 1.24 percent.
- The index reversed early gains after Samsung Electronics reported record results that fell slightly short of expectations.
- Samsung fell 4.13 percent, while SK hynix gained 2.62 percent and institutions were net sellers.
The KOSPI closed lower on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as investors sold Samsung Electronics after the company reported record third-quarter results that came in slightly below market expectations. The benchmark index ended at 5,937.66, down 74.78 points or 1.24 percent, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Samsung earnings reverse early gains
The index opened slightly higher and climbed as far as 6,100.11 before turning lower shortly before 10 a.m. Seoul time, following the release of Samsung's earnings. The move reversed part of the KOSPI's 6.63 percent advance in the previous session, when chip stocks had rallied after SK hynix reported strong results and announced additional shareholder returns.
Samsung reported third-quarter revenue of 195.25 trillion won and operating profit of 107.44 trillion won, with artificial-intelligence demand supporting its memory-chip business. Yonhap said the results nevertheless fell slightly short of analysts' expectations. Samsung's shares closed at 232,000 won, down 4.13 percent, according to the agency's market report.
Chip stocks move in opposite directions
SK hynix provided a partial counterweight, rising 2.62 percent to 1.53 million won after its record results and shareholder-return announcement the previous day. The contrasting performances showed that strong semiconductor fundamentals did not prevent investors from reassessing expectations for individual companies.
Institutional investors were net sellers in Seoul, while foreign investors and individuals bought shares, Yonhap reported. The Korean won strengthened against the US dollar during the session. The day's decline followed a sharp rally, leaving the index below the 6,000-point level at the close.
Investor focus shifts to returns
Samsung's earnings highlighted the strength of AI-related memory demand, but the market response indicated that expectations had become demanding after the recent chip-led advance. Investors also focused on the timing and detail of Samsung's shareholder-return plans. The session therefore combined strong operating data with renewed scrutiny of valuation, earnings expectations and capital allocation.
Further index developments and related coverage are available in the KOSPI topic overview.
