Seoul: KOSPI closes 6.02% lower as authorities announce emergency measure
The benchmark closed at 5,059.69. From 9 November, brokers will be exempt from the 140% collateral requirement on margin loans for three months.
Updated 06.11.2026 · 09:01, Athens time — What changed
The KOSPI closed at 5,059.69 on Friday, 6 November, down 6.02% from the previous session. It pared losses from an intraday low of 4,911.28. The KOSDAQ finished at 644.27, down 5.03%, according to Korea Exchange figures reported by Yonhap.
At an emergency meeting chaired by Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il, authorities agreed to exempt brokerages from the requirement to maintain collateral worth 140% of the loan on margin stock purchases. The exemption starts on Monday, 9 November and lasts three months. The ministry said the aim was to curb forced selling that could amplify a sharp fall. Authorities said they would prepare additional measures if volatility increased.
Original report
The Korea Exchange (KRX) halted trading on its main market for 20 minutes on Friday, 6 November 2026. According to exchange figures reported by Yonhap, the circuit breaker was triggered at 09:03 Seoul time (02:03 Athens time), with the KOSPI at 4,924.61, down 8.52% from the previous close. Trading resumed when the halt ended.
What triggers a trading halt
Under KRX rules, the first-stage circuit breaker halts trading for 20 minutes when the benchmark falls at least 8% from the previous close and stays there for at least one minute. Yonhap reported that a ten-minute single-price auction process followed the pause.
Reuters reported sharp losses in South Korean chip shares. In the previous New York session on Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite closed 5.5% lower. The KOSPI’s 8.52% decline was measured when the halt was triggered.
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