Seoul shares open sharply higher on US gains

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street driven by hopes for rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 59.1 points, or 1.88 percent, to 3,206.85 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks gained ground on hopes the Federal Reserve may go for multiple rate cuts later this year to support the economy following a weaker-than-expected jobs report released over the weekend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.

Aug. 5, 2025

Seoul shares end higher on bargain hunting, US rate cut hopes; won sharply up

South Korean stocks closed higher Monday as investors purchased blue chip shares at bargain rates after a steep fall last week and on heightened expectations for the US Federal Reserve's pivot to monetary easing. The Korean won rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 28.34 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 3,147.75. Trade volume was a little slim at 291 million shares worth 9.66 trillion won ($6.98 billion), with winners outnumbering losers

Aug. 4, 2025

Seoul shares open higher on tech gains

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Monday, despite US losses, as investors went bargain hunting following a steep fall last week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.5 points, or 0.18 percent, to 3,124.91 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, the Kospi sank at the steepest pace in nearly four months as investor sentiment was dragged down by the government's tax revision proposal to raise taxes on corporations and stock investors. Wall Street lost ground last w

Aug. 4, 2025

Foreign money returns to Kospi, piling into Samsung Electronics

Foreign investors net purchased shares of over 6 trillion won ($4.3 billion) on the benchmark Kospi in July, driven largely by a massive 3.5 trillion won buying spree on the country’s leading chipmaker, Samsung Electronics. Offshore investors bought a net 6.28 trillion won worth of local stocks on the main bourse Kospi in July, according to the data from the bourse operator Korea Exchange. It was the largest amount since the 7.86 trillion won net buying in February 2024. Since turning to a net b

Aug. 3, 2025

Korean stocks tumble on tax reform letdown, trade uncertainty

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi slumped nearly 4 percent on Friday, marking its steepest single-day drop in two months, as investor optimism soured following disappointment over the government’s tax code revision and mounting uncertainty over US tariff talks. The Kospi closed at 3,119.41, down 3.88 percent from the previous session. The selloff was led by institutional and foreign investors, who offloaded 10.7 trillion won ($7.6 billion) and 656.5 billion won worth of shares, respectively. Retail

Aug. 1, 2025

Seoul shares snap 6-day winning streak after US tariff deal

South Korean stocks ended their six-day winning streak Thursday on profit-taking, as investors assessed the impact of the long-awaited tariff deal between Seoul and Washington on the industry and the broader economy. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 9.03 points, or 0.28 percent, to close at 3,245.44, after hitting a four-year high in the previous session. Trade volume was heavy at 536.75 million shares worth 16.29 trillion won ($

July 31, 2025

Seoul shares open higher following US tariff deal

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Thursday after the country reached a long-awaited tariff agreement with the United States. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 3.95 points, or 0.12 percent, to 3,258.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Earlier in the day, the two nations announced a trade deal that would impose a 15 percent tariff on South Korean imports and calls for $350 billion in US investments. US President Donald Trump earlier had threatened to impose a 25 per

July 31, 2025

Seoul shares extend winning streak to 6th day amid looming US tariff deadline

South Korean stocks rose for a sixth consecutive session to the highest level in about four years on Wednesday, led by tech gains, as investors await a deal between Seoul and Washington over the Donald Trump administration's aggressive tariff scheme. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 23.9 points, or 0.74 percent, to close at 3,252.47, extending its winning streak to a sixth session. The reading marked the highest level since Aug.

July 30, 2025

S. Korea launches joint task force against stock manipulation

A joint task force of financial authorities and the stock market operator set sail Wednesday in a follow-up step to quickly detect and root out stock manipulation. The joint response team, comprising officials from the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange, is tasked with detecting and probing illegal and unfair stock trading activities. So far, responsibilities for responding to unfair trading have been fragmented across several institutions, le

July 30, 2025

Seoul shares open flat amid intense US tariff talks

South Korean stocks opened nearly unchanged Wednesday after reaching a four-year high the previous session amid uncertainties over high-stakes tariff talks with the United States. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1.88 points, or 0.06 percent, to 3,232.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading. South Korea continued intensive negotiations with the US to reach a deal on President Donald Trump's administration's sweeping tariff scheme before the Aug. 1 deadline. In the latest round

July 30, 2025

Seoul shares hit 4-yr high despite US tariff uncertainty

South Korean stocks climbed to the highest level in nearly four years Tuesday, buoyed by strong foreign buying, as last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington over the Donald Trump administration's aggressive tariff scheme. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 21.05 points, or 0.66 percent, to close at 3,230.57, extending its winning streak to a fifth session. The reading marks the highest level since Aug. 19

July 29, 2025

Seoul shares open lower amid US tariff concerns

South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday as investors await a potential deal in high-stakes tariff talks with the United States, with just three days remaining before the negotiation deadline. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 24.34 point, or 0.76 percent, to 3,185.18 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington to reach a deal on the US President Donald Trump administration's aggressive tariff scheme before th

July 29, 2025

[Graphic News] Korean beverages going global

South Korea’s beverage exports hit a record high in the first half of 2025, fueled by growing global interest in unique Korean drinks. Total exports reached $409.81 million, up 3.9 percent from the same period last year and nearly 27 percent more than in 2021. Non-fruit/vegetable drinks made up 94 percent of the total. China was the top importer, purchasing $116.1 million worth of Korean beverages, followed by the US, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia. Lotte Chilsung’s Milkis, a creamy carbona

July 29, 2025

Seoul shares up for 4th day on Samsung gains amid US tariff caution

South Korean stocks finished higher Monday, led by strong gains by tech giant Samsung Electronics amid caution over last-minute negotiations with the United States on its aggressive tariff scheme. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.47 points, or 0.42 percent, to close at 3,209.52, extending its winning streak to a fourth day. Trade volume was heavy at 500.22 million shares worth 13.83 trillion won ($10.01 billion), with losers

July 28, 2025

Seoul shares open flat amid US tariff caution

South Korean stocks opened nearly unchanged Monday, despite strong gains by tech giant Samsung Electronics, as investors await a potential deal in high-stakes tariff talks with the United States, with just days remaining before the negotiation deadline. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.89 point, or 0.03 percent, to 3,196.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington to reach a deal on US President Donald Trump's a

July 28, 2025