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Nuclear boom propels Doosan to 7th among Korea's largest chaebol groups
Doosan Group, a Korean power generation-to-heavy equipment conglomerate, has shaken up the leaderboard of the country’s largest conglomerates as its listed companies, namely Doosan Enerbility, saw their stock prices surge in the first five months of this year on the back of the United States doubling down on nuclear energy. According to the Korea Exchange, the combined market capitalization of Doosan Group’s seven listed companies, including Doosan Bobcat, Doosan Enerbility, Doosan Fuel Cell and
June 5, 2025 -
Seoul shares spike nearly 3% on hope for policy push under Lee administration
South Korean shares closed nearly 3 percent higher Wednesday on hopes for a policy push by the Lee Jae-myung government. The Korean won also rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 71.87 points, or 2.66 percent, to close at 2,770.84. Trade volume was heavy at 485.85 million shares worth 11.95 trillion won ($8.7 billion), with gainers beating losers 798 to 119. Foreign and institutional investors bought a net 1.05 trillion won and 203.48 billion won, resp
June 4, 2025 -
Kospi hits 2025 high on postelection optimism
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi surged to a high for the year, surpassing the 2,770 threshold on Wednesday, driven by political clarity following President Lee Jae-myung's election victory. The Kospi closed daytime trading at 2770.84 on Wednesday, marking a gain of 71.87 points, or 2.66 percent from the previous trading session on Monday. The Korean bourse was closed Tuesday in observance of the presidential election. The index opened at 2,737.92, trading higher from the outset as bullish sentimen
June 4, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher after presidential election
South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, a day after the presidential election. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 40.94 points, or 1.52 percent, to 2,739.91 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.51 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.81 percent. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, won the election, defeating Kim Moon-soo of
June 4, 2025 -
Postelection momentum: Will new leadership lift Kospi past 2,800?
After months of political limbo, South Korean capital markets are brimming with anticipation as Tuesday’s presidential election ushered in a new leadership and an end to a prolonged policy vacuum. While Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, and his conservative rival differed in the specifics of their market-boosting pledges, both emphasized the need to resolve the persistent “Korea discount” that has long weighed on valuations. Lee was projected to win the elect
June 3, 2025 -
Kospi reclaims 2,700 intraday amid preelection momentum
South Korean stocks held firm Monday as anticipation of Tuesday’s presidential election helped extend recent gains, with the benchmark Kospi reclaiming the 2,700 level during intraday trading on the final session before a new administration takes office. The Kospi opened strong at 2,709.92, nearly 10 points above Friday’s close, and climbed to an early high of 2,719.87 within the first 20 minutes. The index remained above 2,700 through the morning before paring gains to end slightly higher at 2,
June 2, 2025 -
Seoul shares nearly flat amid renewed tariff woes
South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Monday, as investors took a wait-and-see posture ahead of the crucial presidential election amid signs of renewed trade tensions between the United States and China. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1.3 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,698.97. Trade volume was moderate at 320.32 million shares worth 7.99 trillion won ($5.82 billion), with losers beating winners 523 to 369. Forei
June 2, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher on eve of presidential election
South Korean stocks opened higher Monday, led by tech gains, one day before the presidential election. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 18.75 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,716.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading. South Korean voters were set to cast their ballots to choose a president on Tuesday, after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted following the imposition of martial law in December. Front-runner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party was vying against Kim Moon-so
June 2, 2025 -
Foreign-owned homes in S. Korea top 100,000 for 1st time
The number of homes owned by foreigners in South Korea surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2024, with Chinese nationals accounting for more than 56 percent, government data showed Friday. As of the end of last year, foreigners owned 100,216 homes in South Korea, up 5.4 percent from six months earlier, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Foreign-owned homes made up 0.52 percent of the country's total registered housing units, the ministry said. The proportion of h
May 30, 2025 -
Seoul shares rise to 10-month high on tech rally
South Korean stocks finished markedly higher to hit a 10-month high Thursday, driven by gains in tech shares, following strong earnings from US chip giant Nvidia Corp. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 50.49 points, or 1.89 percent, to close at 2,720.64. It marked the highest level since Aug. 2, when the index finished at 2,725.02. Trade volume was moderate at 444.45 million shares worth 10.79 trillion won ($7.8 billion), with winners
May 29, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher after robust Nvidia earnings
South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, defying overnight losses on Wall Street, as technology shares were fueled by robust earnings from US chip giant Nvidia Corp. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 22.59 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,692.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks closed lower overnight ahead of Nvidia's highly anticipated earnings release. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.58 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite shed 0.51 percent.
May 29, 2025 -
Hybe founder Bang probed over IPO flaws
Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of the K-pop powerhouse Hybe, has been under investigation over charges that he intentionally misled investors ahead of the company's stock market debut, industry sources said Wednesday. According to the sources, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the country's financial watchdog, has been probing Bang on speculation that he had sought to list Hybe on the stock market while stressing that there was no plan for Hybe's initial public offering (IPO). The sou
May 28, 2025 -
Seoul shares rise to 3-month high on tech gains, US rallies
South Korean stocks finished markedly higher to hit a three-month high Wednesday, driven by gains in tech shares, as the United States' temporary pause on tariffs against the European Union boosted investor appetite for risky assets. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 32.93 points, or 1.25 percent, to close at 2,670.15. It marked the highest level since Feb. 19, when the index finished at 2,671.52. Trade volume was moderate at 403
May 28, 2025 -
Stronger won spurs Korean sell-off in US stock market
South Korean investors are offloading their holdings of US stocks, pressured by the appreciation of the Korean won and heightened stock market volatility. According to data from the Korea Securities Depository, Korean investors have net sold $1.19 billion worth of US stocks so far this month. This marks a sharp reversal from their consistent net-buying trend in the US market from October through April. Investors had poured a combined $14.8 billion into US stocks in the first four months of the y
May 28, 2025 -
Financial markets to close on June 3 for presidential election
South Korea's foreign exchange and stock markets will be closed on June 3, the day of the presidential election, their operators said Wednesday. The election date was set as a temporary public holiday, and the markets will be closed for the day, according to the FX market operation committee and the Korea Exchange. Following the one-day closure, the markets will reopen at 9 a.m. on June 4, it added. (Yonhap)
May 28, 2025