Asian AI and semiconductor stocks fell sharply during November 4 trading as investors weighed the implications of Democrats taking both chambers of Congress. But the session did not end in a uniform selloff: Japan’s Nikkei 225 recovered much of its intraday loss, and South Korea’s Kospi closed higher.
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November 4: the intraday selloff and the close
The day’s lows and closing performances tell different stories. Early reports captured steep losses, while later figures showed a substantial rebound in the major indexes and some individual stocks.
| Market or stock |
Intraday move reported |
Later session or closing figure reported |
| Nikkei 225 |
One report put the decline at 3.6% intraday. 11 |
Closed at 62,188.63, down 1.42%. 26 |
| Kospi |
Fell to an intraday low of 5,421.72. 23 |
Closed at 5,683.80, up 0.62%. 23 |
| SoftBank |
Fell about 7% during the selloff in one report. 6 |
An AP report later recorded a 3.2% decline. 3 |
| Kioxia |
Was down 11.55% at the Tokyo morning break in one report. 27 |
An AP report put the decline at 5.4% after losses eased. 3 |
| Advantest and Tokyo Electron |
Fell nearly 8% and nearly 6%, respectively, in an early report. 9 |
A separate report described both as down around 3%, without providing precise closing figures. 19 |
| Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix |
Both recovered from steeper intraday losses. 23 |
Closed down 0.68% and 0.14%, respectively. 23 |
These figures come from reports taken at different points in the session, so they should not be treated as directly comparable closing prices. The available reporting does not establish a reliable November 4 intraday low and local-market close for TSMC.
Why investors sold AI and chip shares
The main concern was that a Democratic-led Congress could increase scrutiny of AI and cryptocurrency companies, while local opposition and state policy changes might slow data-center construction. That mattered to chipmakers and equipment suppliers because the AI infrastructure buildout is an important source of anticipated demand.
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Investors also watched state races. In Texas, governor-elect Gina Hinojosa had campaigned on a moratorium on new data centers, prompting concern about future development in a key technology market.
13 These were concerns about potential policy changes—not evidence that a nationwide restriction had already taken effect.
The election outcome was not the only pressure on individual companies. Kioxia’s October–December guidance missed market expectations, adding a company-specific reason for weakness alongside the broader market reaction.
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The rebound matters as much as the selloff
By the close, the Nikkei had recovered most of its intraday losses, and the Kospi had moved from its low to a gain for the day. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also ended with relatively small declines after recovering from steeper falls.
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The reports establish that the indexes recovered, but they do not verify how much Korean battery or pharmaceutical shares, clearer election results, or Nasdaq futures contributed to that rebound. It is safer to describe the recovery than to assign it to specific drivers without stronger evidence.
What the market reaction did—and did not—signal
The selloff reflected investor expectations about regulation and data-center development, not enacted changes to AI rules. Reuters also reported that investors anticipated legislative gridlock between Congress and President Trump, a factor that could complicate the path from election results to federal policy.
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The available reporting does not substantiate more specific claims about the Senate vote margin, presidential veto constraints, state authority over permits and grid connections, or the share of AI data-center spending located in Texas and Georgia. Nor does it establish that those factors would limit near-term market downside. The evidence supports a narrower conclusion: election-driven policy uncertainty put AI-linked shares under pressure, while Kioxia had an additional guidance-related headwind and major indexes recovered substantially before the session ended.
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