KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise

South Korea's stock market regulator, the Korea Exchange (KRX), activated a buy-side sidecar for the KOSPI index on Wednesday as the benchmark index experienced a sharp rise. The KOSPI, which tracks the performance of the largest companies listed on the Korea Exchange, was suspended from program trading for five minutes at 9:53 a.m. local time.

The index opened 2.23 percent higher, adding 255.92 points, or 4.54 percent, to reach 5,894.26 points by 9:55 a.m. The rally in the KOSPI was fueled by strong earnings from AI-driven semiconductor companies, which boosted investor confidence ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.

Before the market opened, SK hynix Inc., a major South Korean electronics company, reported record revenue and operating profit for the third quarter. The company's strong performance was largely driven by robust demand for memory chips. In response to its impressive results, SK hynix announced a shareholder return program worth more than 100 trillion won ($75.3 billion) for the year 2026.

The buy-side sidecar mechanism is activated when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index increases by 5 percent or more for at least one minute. This automated system is designed to facilitate increased buying activity in the market when the index demonstrates significant upward momentum.