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Seoul shares up for 3rd day amid US tariff uncertainties; won sharply down
Seoul shares closed slightly higher Friday, extending their winning streak to a third day, as investors kept a close eye on the ongoing tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States, which is expected to have a huge impact on the economy. The Korean won lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 5.6 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 3,196.05. Trade volume was moderate at 385.7 million shares worth 9.8 trillion won ($7.1 billion), w
July 25, 2025 -
Seoul shares open tad higher amid US tariff uncertainties
Seoul shares kicked off slightly higher Friday amid uncertainties over tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 6.01 points, or 0.19 percent, to 3,196.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed mixed, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 up 0.18 percent and 0.07 percent, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.7 percent. Tesla slid 8.2 percent on weaker-than-
July 25, 2025 -
Kospi ends higher amid postponed tariff talks; won sharply up
Seoul shares closed slightly higher Thursday amid heightened concerns over high-level trade talks between South Korea and the United States. The Korean won rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.68 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 3,190.45. The index had surpassed the 3,230-point mark during the morning session, but trimmed earlier gains on news the "2+2" high-level trade talks between Seoul and Washington, originally planned for Friday (U
July 24, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher on record Q2 earnings from SK hynix
Seoul shares kicked off sharply higher Thursday on the strong performance of big-cap tech shares, in particular SK hynix, boosted by record-high second-quarter earnings. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 38.8 points, or 1.22 percent, to 3,222.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street gained ground as the Donald Trump administration struck a trade deal with Japan to lower its 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on the Asian nation to 15 percent in exchange for g
July 24, 2025 -
Seoul shares end higher amid caution over tariff talks
South Korean stocks finished higher Wednesday, as investors picked up big-cap tech shares amid caution ahead of high-stakes talks with the United States on its sweeping tariff scheme. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.83 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 3,183.77, rebounding from a marked loss in the previous session. Trade volume was moderate at 655.24 million shares worth 11.89 trillion won ($8.62 billion), with losers be
July 23, 2025 -
Why Korea’s stock market dances to foreign tunes
South Korea’s leading chipmaker SK hynix saw its stock rally come to an abrupt halt last week following a bearish forecast from global banking giant Goldman Sachs. The sudden turn underscored the outsized influence of foreign perspectives on the domestic stock market. On July 17, shares of Kospi-listed SK hynix plunged nearly 9 percent to 269,500 won ($195) as of closing after Goldman Sachs downgraded its investment rating on the memory chip giant to “neutral” from “buy,” citing expectations of
July 23, 2025 -
Korea’s ETF market tops 1,000 listings, hits record W222tr in assets
The number of exchange-traded funds listed on South Korea’s capital market has surpassed 1,000, marking a key milestone in the sector’s 23-year history. According to Korea Exchange data released Wednesday, the number of listed ETFs reached 1,002 as of Tuesday, up 15 percent from around 870 a year earlier. Over the same period, the market’s total net asset value surged 40 percent to 222 trillion won ($161 billion), crossing the 220 trillion won mark for the first time earlier this month. When ETF
July 23, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher amid multiple US trade deals
Seoul shares kicked off higher Wednesday following news the United States had struck a tariff agreement with Japan and the Philippines. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 12.1 points, or 0.38 percent, to 3,182.04 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed mixed amid a slide in tech shares and expectations brewed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks that he will meet with his Chinese counterpart in Stockholm next week for trade talks. The Dow
July 23, 2025 -
Seoul shares sink over 1% ahead of tariff deadline, Q2 earnings
Seoul shares closed sharply lower Tuesday as investors cashed in recent gains amid uncertainties with US tariff policies and upcoming corporate earnings. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 40.87 points, or 1.27 percent, to close at 3,169.94. Trade volume was moderate at 375.19 million shares worth 11.39 trillion won ($8.2 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 686 to 208. Institutional and foreign investors sold 413.94 billion won
July 22, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher ahead of earnings season
Seoul shares opened higher Tuesday after a mixed close on Wall Street as investors await major earnings reports amid US tariff uncertainties. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.49 point, or 0.02 percent, to 3,211.30 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.04 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.38 percent. Investors are keeping a close eye on any new developments in US tariff policies as Trump may announce more u
July 22, 2025 -
Seoul shares end higher on extended foreign buying
Seoul shares closed higher Monday, driven by an extended foreign buying binge amid lingering concerns over US tariff measures. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 22.74 points, or 0.71 percent, to close at 3,210.81. Trade volume was a little slim at 341.3 million shares worth 10.6 trillion won ($7.6 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 489 to 390. Foreign investors purchased 893.4 billion won worth of local shares, while institut
July 21, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher on tech gains
Seoul shares kicked off higher Monday, led by gains in big-cap tech shares, amid lingering concerns over the United States' tariff scheme. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 15.83 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,203.90 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, Wall Street closed mixed as concerns over the Trump administration's tariff policies offset the risky appetite brewed by strong US retail sales data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.32 percent, and the S&P 500
July 21, 2025 -
Chip stocks diverge: Samsung surges, SK hynix dips
The stock prices of South Korea’s leading chipmaker Samsung Electronics and crosstown rival SK hynix have recently been moving along different trajectories, pricing in contrasting outlooks for their business prospects. On Friday, Samsung Electronics closed at 67,100 won ($48.15), reaching its highest price this year. Meanwhile, SK hynix ended the day at 269,000 won, down more than 10 percent from its 52-week high of 306,500 won on July 11. The recent shift marks a reversal from trends seen in th
July 20, 2025 -
Seoul shares end lower on retail selling amid tariff worries
Seoul shares closed lower Friday as investors remained cautious over US President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 4.22 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 3,188.07. The main index rose 0.39 percent for the week. Trade volume was moderate at 389.98 million shares worth 11.84 trillion won ($8.5 billion). Decliners outnumbered gainers 589 to 303. The KOSPI reversed earlier gains after opening highe
July 18, 2025 -
Seoul shares open higher on US gains
Seoul shares opened higher Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street following the release of strong economic data despite lingering concerns over US tariffs. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.54 points, or 0.14 percent, to 3,196.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.52 percent to 44,484.49, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed 0.75 percent to 20,885.65. An increase in US retail sales in June eased concerns over weak con
July 18, 2025