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Updated at 9:38 a.m. Thursday in Seoul and Tokyo (7:38 p.m. ET Wednesday) with the first cash-market moves of the session.
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Thursday after Wall Street’s post-election rally, with South Korean stocks tumbling at the open while Tokyo edged higher.
South Korea’s KOSPI fell 3.14% to 5,505.50 at 9:38 a.m. Seoul time, down from Wednesday’s close of 5,683.80, per Naver data. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.31% to 62,384.50 at 9:38 a.m. Tokyo time, according to the Nikkei’s official index page. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had risen 1.81% in early Thursday trading as of about 6:27 p.m. ET Wednesday, CNBC reported earlier.
Investors read the Democrats’ sweep of both chambers of Congress as easing political uncertainty, with expectations of legislative gridlock that could constrain President Trump’s agenda; his acceptance of the results also helped calm markets, CNBC reported. Sentiment got a further lift from an 8% plunge in oil prices, as investors anticipated growing pressure on the administration to end the war in Iran.
On Wednesday the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its best day since April 2025, gaining more than 1,500 points, or 3%, as oil settled down more than 8% at $88.12 a barrel. Weekly jobless claims land Thursday morning and the October jobs report arrives Friday.
For people with retirement money in international stock funds, Seoul’s fall is a reminder that a strong day on Wall Street does not mean every market is rising.
JBizNews Desk | New York
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