KOSPI Index Drops Below 5,600 Level as U.S. Midterm Results Rattle Markets

Key Facts

The South Korean KOSPI index fell 1.02% to close at 5,591.25 on November 4, 2026. The Seoul Economic Daily reported that the benchmark lost 57.54 points as investor sentiment soured during the progression of the U.S. midterm election results.

The reversal was driven by rising concerns that a potential Democratic sweep of Congress could lead to tighter regulation of AI data centers. Amid this regulatory uncertainty, major large-cap stocks declined on November 4, 2026, with Samsung Electronics falling 1.37%, SK hynix dropping 2.29%, and LG Energy Solution tumbling 5.70%.

The final outlines of the U.S. midterm elections are expected to become clearer later today, coinciding with the scheduled release of the ADP Employment Change and the ISM Services PMI in the United States on November 4, 2026.