Securities firms set to further rise on increased turnover, friendly policies

Shares in securities firms, which have already doubled this year, are widely expected to further advance down the road on the back of increased turnover and market-friendly steps, industry watchers said Monday. According to the Korea Exchange, the index tracking listed securities firms' stock movement has nearly doubled this year, joining the ranks of top-performing sectors. The benchmark index, the KOSPI, has rallied by more than 43 percent so far this year, and retail investors flocked to the

Oct. 6, 2025

Seoul shares break 3,500 for 1st time on chip rally

South Korean stocks surged Thursday, climbing past the 3,500 mark for the first time, as investors welcomed news of business partnerships between OpenAI and top chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The local currency strengthened against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 93.38 points, or 2.7 percent, to close at 3,549.21, surpassing the previous record high of 3,486.19 set on Sept. 23. Trade volume was heavy at 394.92 million shares worth 18.57 trillion

Oct. 2, 2025

Seoul shares open sharply higher on tech gains

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains, as investors bought big-cap tech shares ahead of the extended Chuseok holiday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 68.84 points, or 1.99 percent, to 3,524.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading. It was the first time the index topped the 3,500 level in intraday trading. Foreigners were net buyers, while retail and institutional investors offloaded shares. Overnight, Wall Street closed hi

Oct. 2, 2025

Seoul shares up near 1% on rate cut hope, robust export data; won declines

South Korean stocks closed nearly 1 percent higher Wednesday on reviving rate cut hopes and better-than-anticipated September export data. The local currency edged down against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 31.23 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 3,455.83, rebounding from a 0.19 percent drop in the previous session. Trade volume was moderate at 488.7 million shares worth 12.2 trillion won ($8.69 billion), with losers beating gainers 476 to 385. Foreigner

Oct. 1, 2025

Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 24.83 points, or 0.73 percent, to 3,449.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks closed higher as investors see a looming shutdown of the Washington government would affect key economic data and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.18 percent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.31 percent. In Seoul, major sto

Oct. 1, 2025

Seoul stocks end lower on US government shutdown woes

Seoul stocks closed slightly lower Tuesday as investors remained cautious over uncertainties surrounding a looming government shutdown in the United States. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 6.61 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 3,424.6. Trade volume was moderate at 511.5 million shares worth 10.7 trillion won ($7.6 billion). Losers outnumbered gainers 584 to 279. Institutional and retail investors were net sellers, offloading 55.

Sept. 30, 2025

Seoul stocks open higher after AI-led rebound on Wall Street

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, following an overnight rise on Wall Street. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 7.77 points, or 0.23 percent, to 3,438.98 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, major US stock indexes gathered ground as AI stocks, including Nvidia, rebounded, following a bearish run driven by skepticism over the sector's profitability. Traders are also keeping an eye on the US nonfarm payrolls report due Friday, which is expected to provide further detai

Sept. 30, 2025

Seoul shares sharply rebound on reviving rate cut hope; won sharply up

South Korean stocks rose more than 1 percent Monday, rebounding from the previous session's steep drop, as reviving hopes for another rate cut by the Federal Reserve encouraged foreign buying. The Korean won rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 45.16 points, or 1.33 percent, to close at 3,431.21, ending a three-day losing streak through Friday, when the index lost 2.45 percent. Trade volume was moderate at 412.8 million shares worth 9.94 trill

Sept. 29, 2025

Seoul shares open higher after sharp drop

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday following the previous session's sharp drop. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 39.57 points, or 1.17 percent, to 3,425.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The KOSPI tumbled 2.45 percent Friday on escalating tariff woes sparked by US President Donald Trump's remarks that South Korea's planned $350 billion investment is just "up front." Most shares started in positive territory. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.96 percent

Sept. 29, 2025

Seoul shares dip over 2% on tariff woes, reduced Fed rate cut hopes; won at 4-month low

South Korean stocks tumbled more than 2 percent Friday, falling below the 3,400-point threshold for the first time in 10 sessions on escalating tariff woes and diminished hopes for US rate cuts. The local currency also nosedived, piercing the 1,410 won mark against the US dollar for the first time in more than four months as investors rushed to safer assets. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 85.06 points, or 2.45 percent, to close at 3,386.05. It marked the first 3,300-line fi

Sept. 26, 2025

Seoul shares open lower on tariff woes, US losses

South Korean stocks started lower Friday on escalating concerns over protracted tariff negotiations with the United States. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 32.73 points, or 0.94 percent, to 3,438.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US President Donald Trump called South Korea's $350 billion investment commitment "up front" amid the ongoing Seoul-Washington negotiations for details of investment packages following their initial agreement in August. US stocks fel

Sept. 26, 2025

Seoul shares end nearly flat on planned US inflation data, Fed chair's remarks

South Korean stocks closed almost flat Thursday amid caution ahead of US inflation data due later this week and concerns the stock markets may be "highly valued." The Korean won was trading lower against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 1.03 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 3,471.11. Trade volume was moderate at 289 million shares worth 12.4 trillion won ($8.9 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 533 to 335. Retail investors unloaded local shares wort

Sept. 25, 2025

Won weakens to 2-month low on foreign sell-off, US uncertainty

The Korean won slumped to its weakest level against the US dollar in about two months on Thursday, amid a lull in foreign inflows into the local stock market. Lingering uncertainties surrounding US tariff negotiations and monetary policy further weighed on the currency. The won was quoted at 1,400.6 won per dollar as of daytime trading closing, losing value by 3.1 won from the previous session. The closing marked the won's weakest level in nearly two months since it wrapped up trading at 1,401.4

Sept. 25, 2025

Seoul shares open lower on chip slump, currency

South Korean stocks opened lower Thursday, led by losses in large-cap semiconductor shares, as investors remained cautious over the Korean won's weakness and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments on the "highly valued" stock market. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 13.34 points, or 0.38 percent, to 3,458.8 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street finished lower following recent gains, after Powell said "equity prices are fairly highly valued" and th

Sept. 25, 2025

Seoul shares close lower on profit-taking, Powell's comments

South Korean stocks closed lower Wednesday after hitting a new high as investors cashed in profits and digested the US Federal Reserve chair's comment that stock prices are overvalued. The local currency was trading lower against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 14.05 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 3,472.14. Trade volume was moderate at 281 million shares worth 11.3 trillion won ($8.08 billion), with losers beating gainers 684 to 192. Foreigners sold a net

Sept. 24, 2025