Seoul shares open sharply lower on AI woes ahead of US midterm elections

Published Nov 3, 2026 9:24 am KST

A screen at the dealing room of Hana Bank’s headquarters in Seoul shows the KOSPI and Kosdaq indices, Tuesday. Yonhap

Korean stocks started sharply lower Tuesday, weighed down by lingering concerns over massive spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 143.89 points, or 2.46 percent, to 5,715.19 at the opening bell.

Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed as investors were focused on the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday (U.S. time).

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 closed 1.07 percent and 0.51 percent lower, respectively, as tech and AI shares remained shaky, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.41 percent.

Oil prices fell on optimism about a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement.

发布于2026年11月3日上午9:24（韩国标准时间）

周二，首尔韩亚银行总部交易室的屏幕上显示着韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）和韩国创业板指数（Kosdaq）。（韩联社）

周二，韩国股市开盘大幅下跌，原因是市场持续担忧美国中期选举前在人工智能（AI）基础设施方面投入巨资。

韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）开盘下跌143.89点，跌幅2.46%，至5715.19点。

隔夜，美国股市收盘涨跌互现，投资者关注周二（美国时间）举行的美国中期选举。

科技股为主的纳斯达克综合指数和标普500指数分别收跌1.07%和0.51%，科技股和人工智能股走势依然不稳，而道琼斯工业平均指数上涨0.41%。

由于市场对美伊可能达成和平协议持乐观态度，油价下跌。