KOSPI falls 1.5 percent as Samsung and SK hynix earnings loom
Published on 10/26/2026 at 13:35 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSForeign selling and earnings ahead
- KOSPI closed at 5,469 points, down 81 points or 1.5 percent on October 26, 2026.
- Foreign investors sold 695.5 billion won as oil prices rose on Middle East tensions.
- HD Hyundai Marine Solution fell 13.7 percent after disappointing third-quarter results.
- SK hynix earnings are scheduled for October 28 at 9:00 a.m. KST.
KOSPI closed at 5,469 points on October 26, down 81 points or 1.5 percent. Renewed Middle East tensions lifted oil prices, while foreign investors sold Korean shares ahead of major earnings releases and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, Yonhap News Agency reported.
HD Hyundai Marine Solution was among the day's weakest large stocks, falling 13.7 percent after its third-quarter results missed market expectations. Samsung Electronics lost 1.2 percent, while SK hynix fell 0.2 percent after an early rally faded, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Why is the KOSPI down today?
Foreign investors sold a net 695.5 billion won on the main board. Institutions bought 611 billion won, and individuals bought 47 billion won. The selling pressure came as Middle East tensions pushed oil prices higher and investors waited for chip earnings, Seoul Economic Daily reported.
The index opened at 5,499 points, briefly recovered above 5,500, then weakened into the close. Monday's finish was the lowest since April 6, when KOSPI ended at 5,450 points.
Winners and losers in the KOSPI
Same-session stock moves were reported by Korea JoongAng Daily and Yonhap News Agency:
- LG Display up 2.4 percent
- Jeju Air up 1.0 percent
- HD Hyundai Marine Solution down 13.7 percent: third-quarter results missed market expectations
- LIG D&A down 9.8 percent: regulators considered additional sanctions
- Hyundai Motor down 2.5 percent
Decliners outnumbered advancers 790 to 101. Trading volume reached 190.46 million shares, worth 12.01 trillion won.
KOSPI reaches a seven-month closing low
The close extended the index's decline below 5,500 points. Samsung Electronics fell 1.2 percent, while SK hynix finished 0.2 percent lower after reports about a possible special dividend were denied by the company.
What comes next for KOSPI
The weekly calendar from Stockhub lists these upcoming events:
- October 27, 2026, 6:00 a.m. KST: South Korean consumer sentiment data.
- October 27, 2026, 8:00 a.m. KST: Advance third-quarter gross domestic product, with a 0.7 percent quarter-over-quarter consensus forecast and 0.6 percent prior growth.
- October 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m. KST: SK hynix third-quarter earnings and investor briefing.
- October 29, 2026, 10:00 a.m. KST: Samsung Electronics third-quarter earnings briefing.
KOSPI price data for October 26, 2026
KOSPI closed at 5,469 points on October 26, 2026, down 81 points or 1.5 percent versus the previous close of 5,550 points, Yonhap News Agency reported. It opened at 5,499 points.
KOSPI by the numbers on October 26, 2026
- Index: KOSPI
- Home exchange: Korea Exchange, South Korea
- Close on October 26, 2026: 5,469 points
- Change versus previous close of October 23, 2026: down 81 points (down 1.5 percent)
- Previous close: 5,550 points
- Open: 5,499 points
- Top gainer: LG Display up 2.4 percent
- Top loser: HD Hyundai Marine Solution down 13.7 percent
- Next scheduled event: October 27, 2026, 6:00 a.m. KST: South Korean consumer sentiment data
