Seoul shares open higher ahead of US jobs data

Seoul shares opened higher Friday as investors await US jobs data this week for clues on the Federal Reserve's future policy path. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 15.66 points, or 0.55 percent, to 2,840.60 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 358 billion won ($260 million) worth of stocks, offsetting individuals' stock selling valued at 352 billion won. The US jobs report due Friday is forecast to show slowing job grow

July 5, 2024

Value-up Program optimism brings Kospi to two-year high

South Korean shares hit the highest level in nearly two and half years on Thursday, with much-awaited tax incentive plans for the Korean government’s program to boost the stock market taking shape. The benchmark Kospi rose 1.11 percent to close at 2,824.94, reaching the highest since January in 2022. Institutional and foreign investors were net buyers of shares worth 1.11 trillion won ($803.8 million) and 321.5 billion won, respectively, while retail investors sold off 1.41 billion of sh

July 4, 2024

Seoul shares rise over 1 pct on rate-cut hope

South Korean stocks finished more than 1 percent higher to hit this year's high Thursday as investor sentiment was boosted by revived hopes for a rate cut in the United States and Samsung Electronics' upcoming earnings guidance. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 30.93 points, or 1.11 percent, to 2,824.94. It marked the highest closing price since Jan. 21, 2022, when it finished at 2,834.29. Trade volume was slim at 386.4 million shares worth 12.8 trillion won ($9.26

July 4, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on US gains

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street led by hopes for a possible rate hike. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 23.37 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,817.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading. In the United States, the S&P 500 index and tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose to hit record highs backed by Tesla and Nvidia amid softening labor data raising hopes for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve. In Seoul, market bellwet

July 4, 2024

Korea to provide W25tr support for debt-laden small business owners in H2

The South Korean government has unveiled a set of economic measures for the second half, focusing on helping small business owners grappling with debt as the economy continues to show uneven recovery. President Yoon Suk Yeol introduced a 25 trillion won ($18 billion) support package for small business owners and the self-employed burdened by loans, and called for structural measures during a meeting to discuss the direction of economic policy in the second half held at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesd

July 3, 2024

Seoul stocks close higher on hopes for Fed's policy pivot

South Korean stocks finished higher Wednesday as investor sentiment was boosted by Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell's comments for a possible interest rate cut. The local currency traded weaker against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.15 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,794.01, rebounding from the previous session's 0.84 percent drop. Trade volume was slim at 334.2 million shares worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.26 billion), with decliners beating gain

July 3, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on eased rate woes

South Korean stocks started higher Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's dovish comments eased rate woes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 11.84 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,792.7 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed higher as Powell said recent economic data represented "significant progress," boosting investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.41 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.84 per

July 3, 2024

Korea soft-launches longer forex trading hours

South Korea’s won-dollar trading on the first day with extended trading hours has gotten off to a smooth start with ample liquidity and no significant increase in volatility, the country’s financial authorities said Tuesday. Starting from Monday, Korea has extended won trading hours to make the currency more tradable and accessible to global investors. Dollar-won trading hours are changed to 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., compared to 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. earlier. Choi Sang-mok, Korea's depu

July 2, 2024

Seoul shares fall sharply ahead of key economic events in US

South Korean stocks fell sharply Tuesday ahead of key economic events in the United States later this week. The local currency traded weaker against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 23.45 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,780.86, ending a two-session winning streak. Trade volume was moderate at 532.3 million shares worth 11.5 trillion won ($8.28 billion), with decliners sharply outnumbering gainers 691 to 195. Foreigners and institutions sold a net 30 billion won a

July 2, 2024

Seoul shares start lower despite US gains

South Korean stocks opened slightly lower Tuesday despite overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 7.76 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,796.55 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed slightly higher, while investors awaited US labor market data and the Federal Reserve minutes due later this week to seek clues about the interest rate outlook. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.13 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq went up 0.

July 2, 2024

Seoul shares up for 2nd day ahead of key events

South Korean stocks finished a tad higher Monday as investors took a breather ahead of the release of the Fed minutes and the second-quarter earnings guidance of Samsung Electronics. The local currency fell against the US dollar on the first day of won-dollar transactions being extended until 2 a.m. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.49 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,804.31. Trade volume was slim at 452.5 million shares worth 9.8 trillion won ($7.1 billion), with losers beati

July 1, 2024

Nine One Hannam sets record for highest apartment price ever

The record for the most expensive apartment ever sold in South Korea was broken in June, according to government data tracking real estate transactions. The country's new most expensive apartment is a 273.94-square-meter first-floor unit at Nine One Hannam in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, which sold for 20 billion won ($14.5 million) on June 4. Nine One Hannam is known to be home to celebrities and business moguls, including RM and Jimin of K-pop group BTS and G-Dragon of Big Bang. Completed

July 1, 2024

Seoul shares start higher amid eased inflation woes, political uncertainties

South Korean stocks opened a tad higher Monday amid eased woes over US inflation and rising political uncertainties. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 0.95 point, or 0.03 percent, to 2,798.77 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Last week, US key inflation data of the personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1 percent on-month for May, meeting the market expectations. However, escalating uncertainties over the upcoming US presidential election weighed heavily on th

July 1, 2024

Foreign buying of Korean shares soars to new record in H1

Foreign investors’ net purchases on the South Korean stock market during the first six months of this year surged to an all-time high of over 23 trillion won ($16.6 billion), according to the nation's sole bourse operator, the Korea Exchange, on Sunday. Overseas investors amassed a total of 23.28 trillion won worth of local shares in the first half of this year, the highest since the Korea Exchange began compiling related data in 1998. The previous high was set at 12.23 trillion won

June 30, 2024

Seoul shares close higher as investors search for clues about Fed's rate policy

Seoul shares ended higher Friday as investors waited for clues about the direction of the US rate decision with key data due later in the day. The local currency rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.02 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,792.08. Trade volume was moderate at 601.1 million shares worth 10.8 trillion won ($7.8 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 578 to 294. Foreigners and institutions purchased local shares worth 29.2 billion

June 28, 2024

Seoul shares open tad higher ahead of key US data

Seoul shares opened a tad higher Friday ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 2.61 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,786.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed slightly higher, as the US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for May is set to be released Friday, the latest data for any clues on the Fed's monetary policy direction. In Seoul, market bellweth

June 28, 2024

Seoul shares end lower on chip slump after Micron earnings

Seoul shares closed lower Thursday amid investors' disappointment on Micron Technology's earnings results. The local currency gained ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 7.99 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,784.06. Trade volume was moderate to a little slim at 387.4 million shares worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.3 billion), with losers far outnumbering winners 619 to 262. Foreigners and retail investors purchased local shares worth 509.5 billion

June 27, 2024

Seoul shares open lower on tech, auto losses

Seoul shares opened lower Thursday despite overnight gains on Wall Street as big-cap tech stocks started off weak. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 24.58 points, or 0.88 percent, to 2,767.47 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed higher, mainly driven by megacap tech shares' performance. But Micron Technology declined after earnings results failed to meet investors' expectations. In Seoul, market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.74 pe

June 27, 2024

Seoul shares end higher driven by tech gains

Seoul shares closed higher Wednesday as big-cap tech shares gained ground tracking a US tech rebound. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index increased 17.66 points, or 0.64 percent, to 2,792.05. Trade volume was moderate at 524.6 million shares worth 11.02 trillion won ($7.9 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 510 to 355. Foreigners purchased 502.6 billion won worth of shares, offsetting retail investors and institutions' sale o

June 26, 2024

Seoul shares open lower led by tech, financial stocks

Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday as big-cap tech and auto shares started in negative territory. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 5.23 points, or 0.19 percent, to 2,769.16 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.76 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 gained 1.26 percent and 0.39 percent, respectively, as megacap tech shares gained ground. In Seoul, tech behemoth Samsung Electronics lost 0.87 percent, while No. 2

June 26, 2024