How much did the KOSPI fall after Seoul stocks opened on Friday?

The KOSPI opened 2.99 percent lower and was down 228.43 points, or 3.85 percent, at 5,709.23 as of 9:15 a.m. The index had also fallen 1.24 percent in the previous session.

Why did Alphabet shares fall and raise concerns about AI investments?

Alphabet shares plunged more than 12 percent after its third-quarter revenue increased 25 percent year on year to $127.58 billion but missed market expectations. The decline renewed concerns about the returns on massive AI investments.

Which Korean companies fell, and what company-specific developments were reported?

Samsung Electronics fell 3.66 percent and SK hynix dropped 6.82 percent. Hyundai Motor slipped 2.39 percent after lowering its annual sales target and investment plans, while Hanwha Aerospace fell 7.76 percent after delayed K9 deliveries to Poland contributed to weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings.

Seoul stocks open lower on Wall Street losses, AI concerns

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Summary

Korean stocks opened lower in Seoul Friday, with the KOSPI down 3.85 percent to 5,709.23 as of 9:15 a.m. after overnight Wall Street losses and renewed concerns about the sustainability of the AI boom. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell, while Hyundai Motor and Hanwha Aerospace also declined. The won traded at 1,339.2 per U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

The KOSPI opened 2.99 percent lower and had fallen 1.24 percent in the previous session.
Alphabet plunged more than 12 percent after third-quarter revenue rose 25 percent year on year to $127.58 billion but missed market expectations.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.38 percent and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index declined 1.4 percent overnight.
Hyundai Motor lowered its annual sales target and investment plans amid a challenging business environment.
Hanwha Aerospace reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings after deliveries of K9 self-propelled howitzers to Poland were delayed.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 30, 2026 9:20 am KST
Updated Oct 30, 2026 9:31 am KST

The benchmark KOSPI is displayed at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Korean stocks opened lower Friday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as renewed concerns over the sustainability of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom weighed on investor sentiment.

After opening 2.99 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended its earlier losses to trade lower 228.43 points, or 3.85 percent, to 5,709.23 as of 9:15 a.m.

The index fell 1.24 percent in the previous session on profit-taking in heavyweight chip stocks, despite Samsung Electronics' record quarterly earnings.

Overnight, Wall Street shares retreated, led by a sell-off in technology shares.

Google parent Alphabet plunged more than 12 percent after its third-quarter revenue rose 25 percent on-year to $127.58 billion but missed market expectations, raising concerns over returns on massive AI investments.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index shed 1.38 percent, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 1.4 percent, weighing on sentiment toward Korean chipmakers.

KOSPI heavyweights traded lower.

Top market cap Samsung Electronics fell 3.66 percent, and chip giant SK hynix surrendered 6.82 percent.

Leading automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 2.39 percent after lowering its annual sales target and investment plans amid a challenging business environment.

Defense firm Hanwha Aerospace slumped 7.76 percent after reporting weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings due to delays in deliveries of K9 self-propelled howitzers to Poland.

The Korean won was trading at 1,339.2 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.3 won from the previous stock trading session's close.

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