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Kospi Falls 1% as Nvidia CEO Exit Hits Chip Stocks
Why is Kospi down today?
Kospi (^KS11) fell 0.98% to 5,290.53 on Friday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's exit led foreign investors to sell chip stocks, erasing an early 2% rally.
Key numbers
| Kospi close | 5,290.53-0.98% |
|---|---|
| Kospi intraday high | 5,504.44+3.0% vs prior close of 5,342.73 |
| SK Hynix close | ₩1,216,000-3.03% |
| Samsung Electronics close | ₩206,000-0.96% |
| Foreign net selling | ₩550.5BBuyers in morning, sellers by close |
| Nvidia close (Thursday) | $166.19-4.3% (per [1]) |
What happened
Kospi (^KS11) fell 0.98% to 5,290.53 on Friday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's exit led foreign investors to sell chip stocks, erasing an early 2% rally. South Korea's main stock index opened up 2.05% and hit 5,504 as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix jumped 3% to 4% early, then turned negative around 12:35 p.m.. Foreign investors sold over 550 billion won (about $410 million) of Korean shares, and SK Hynix closed down 3.03% while Samsung fell 0.96%. Nvidia shares closed about 4% lower Thursday after co-founder Jensen Huang stepped down immediately, with finance chief Colette Kress as interim CEO.
Why it matters
Kospi matters to AI investors because South Korea's biggest companies, Samsung and SK Hynix, make memory chips used in AI data centers, so the index often moves with AI hopes. Friday's reversal shows investors are unsure how Nvidia's leadership change could affect AI spending. One local analyst said rising AI uncertainty weighed on the market. The worry was not shared everywhere: Taiwan's main index rose 1.35% and Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.53%.
Who this affects
- MarketbearishLow impact
- Korean stock investors lost an early 2% gain by the close.
- CompanybearishMedium impact
- SK Hynix holders lost most, down 3%; Samsung fell 1%.
- CompetitorsbullishLow impact
- Taiwan and Japan stocks gained while Korea slipped.
- IndustrymixedMedium impact
- AI chip makers face doubts over Nvidia's leadership change.
Kospi vs Nikkei 225, Taiex
| Kospi^KS11 | 5,290.53 | -0.98% |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225^N225 | 61,142.35 | +0.53% |
| Taiex^TWII | 43,675.12 | +1.35% |
As of 2026-11-13
How we got here
Nvidia says Jensen Huang steps down as CEO; shares close about 4% lower.
Kospi opens up 2.05% at 5,452.41, with Samsung and SK Hynix up 3–4%.
Kospi turns negative around 12:35 p.m. as foreign investors turn to net selling.
Kospi closes at 5,290.53, down 0.98%; SK Hynix falls 3.03%.
What to watch
- Whether foreign investors keep selling Korean chip stocks after Friday's ₩550B net outflow.2026-11-16
- Nvidia's search for a permanent CEO, with Colette Kress serving as interim chief.Ongoing
- Won weakness: it fell 6 won to about 1,337 per dollar, which can affect foreign flows.2026-11-16
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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