South Korean shares end down more than 1% as Samsung drops after earnings

LG Energy Solution

29/10/2026 06:50

KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
For the midday report, please click nL2N46F01K
SEOUL, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended more than 1% lower on Thursday, as chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell sharply after reporting a jump in profit but did not meet investor expectations for shareholder return plans. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 74.78 points, or 1.24%, at 5,937.66. The index rose as much as 1.46% earlier in the session, before sharply reversing its course to fall as much as 3.24%. 
** "Samsung Electronics weakened as there was no announcement of shareholder return policies," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.  
** Samsung Electronics 005930.KS closed down 4.13%, after falling as much as 6.61%. The chipmaker posted a 15-fold jump in quarterly chip profit, powered by the AI boom, but investors balked at a lack of fresh shareholder-return plans and an outlook that lagged rival SK Hynix's.
** Peer chipmaker SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 2.62%.
** South Korea's export growth likely accelerated to its fastest pace in more than 50 years in October, a Reuters poll showed, driven by robust demand for AI investment-related semiconductors and higher memory chip prices.
** Of the total 913 traded issues, 270 shares advanced, while 596 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 72.1 billion won ($53.74 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,336.8 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.39% higher than its previous close at 1,342.0.
** A voting member on the Bank of Korea's board warned that the recent pace of the won's moves warranted close monitoring, signalling caution over the currency even as the export-reliant economy benefits from booming demand for AI chips.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 3.2 basis points to 3.768%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 1.5 basis points to 4.091%.

($1 = 1,341.7500 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Jochelle Mendonca)
 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))