South Korean market sell-off lifts brokerage dividend yields above 8%

Nov 7, 2026 08:31 (2d ago)

A broad South Korean sell-off sent 844 stocks, or 31.7% of 2,659 listed companies, to yearly intraday lows during November 2–6.
Four major brokerages were projected to offer dividend yields above 8%, led by Kiwoom Securities at 8.94%.
The market decline intensified on November 6 as 720 stocks hit yearly intraday lows and circuit breakers were triggered on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ.

South Korea’s broad market sell-off sent 844 of 2,659 listed companies to yearly intraday lows during November 2–6, according to Korea Exchange data released on November 8, while major brokerage shares fell sharply and their estimated dividend yields rose. Kiwoom Securities, Korea Investment Holdings, Samsung Securities and NH Investment & Securities were projected to offer yields above 8% based on forecast annual dividends per share and November 5 closing prices. Kiwoom led at 8.94%, but analysts cautioned that weaker earnings or further share-price declines could reduce realized returns. Analysts maintained a constructive view of parts of the brokerage sector and said concerns about delayed artificial-intelligence investment may be overstated, with AI data-center and memory-chip demand expected to remain resilient.