Seoul stocks closed slightly down Friday as traders took a wait-and-see stance amid persistent uncertainties over monetary tightening and the global economic outlook. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 3.47 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,437.86. Trading volume was light at 430.8 million shares worth 5.98 trillion won ($4.51 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers 445 to 398. Foreign and institutional investors bough

Seoul shares opened lower Friday, as traders took a wait-and-see stance amid persistent uncertainties over monetary tightening and global economic outlook. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 6.5 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,434.83 as of 9:15 a.m. While traders are increasingly looking to less aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve as inflation data shows signs of slowing, upward momentum in global stock markets is lacking. China's worsening COVID-19 situation is

Seoul shares opened higher Thursday as investors await a rate hike decision by the Bank of Korea later in the day. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had added 18.14 points, or 0.75 percent, to 2,436.15 as of 9:15 a.m. The central bank is widely expected to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, slowing its tightening pace as the economy shows signs of losing momentum. Overnight, US stocks finished higher, buoyed by a dovish stance by US Federal Reserve officials

The latest probe by the Korea Exchange into alleged market manipulation by two foreign investment banks in South Korea is creating friction between the bourse operator and global investment banks, amid Seoul’s push for recognition in the Morgan Stanley Capital International developed market index. According to sources Wednesday, the KRX is looking to fine the Seoul offices of Morgan Stanley and CLSA, a Hong Kong-based investment bank, for having failed to warn investors in advance when a r

Seoul stocks closed higher Wednesday amid expectations that the US Federal Reserve might ease aggressive monetary tightening in the coming months. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 12.74 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 2,418.01. Trading volume was moderate at 466.1 million shares worth 7.37 trillion won ($ 5.4 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 663 to 215. Foreign investors bought a net 83.3 billion won worth of shares,

Seoul shares opened higher Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains on eased inflation concerns. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 18.58 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,423.85 as of 9:15 a.m. Overnight, US stocks finished higher, as investors bet that the US Fed may not take aggressive monetary tightening down the road, with inflation data showing signs of peaking, while shrugging off China's recent upticks in COVID-19 cases and possibility of tightening virus restr

Seoul shares opened slightly higher Tuesday amid escalating woes over China's COVID-19 situations. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 2.86 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,422.36 as of 9:15 a.m. Investors are paying attention to recent COVID-19 developments in China as Beijing could impose stricter antivirus restrictions, which would wreak havoc on its economy. China is South Korea's top trading partner. Overnight, US stocks fell, weighed down by interest-sensitive tech

Seoul shares opened lower Monday over woes that the US Federal Reserve may continue its aggressive monetary tightening. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.73 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,431.75 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.59 percent to 33,745.69, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.01 percent to 11,146.06. This week, investors await minutes of the most recent Federal Reserve policy meeting to take a cue o

South Korean stocks ended almost flat Friday, weighed down by lingering concerns over the United States' aggressive monetary tightening and a global economic slowdown. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 1.58 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 2,444.48. Trading volume was moderate at about 579.34 million shares worth some 7.25 trillion won ($5.54 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 543 to 316. Foreign investors bought 197.

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street, on investors' bargain hunting for big-cap tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 13.76 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,456.66 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US shares went down, as St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said rate hikes so far had "only limited effects on observed inflation" and the Fed's target rate should be up to at least

Brokerages, investors resist fiercely to new tax system, citing stock market losses

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday, despite overnight gains on Wall Street, as investors moved to lock in profits amid renewing geopolitical concerns in Europe. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 10.98 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,469.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.17 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.45 percent, after the United States' producer price index, a measure of wholesa

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street, on the back of gains in big-cap tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 9.38 points, or 0.38 percent, to 2,484.03 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.63 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 1.12 percent as investors moved to take profits from last week's rally. In Seoul, tech and bio shares led the overall market advan

Seoul stocks ended lower Monday as investors moved to cash in part of recent gains on cautions that it would be too early to expect the Federal Reserve to slow down its aggressive rate hikes push. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 8.51 points, or 0.34 percent, to close at 2,474.65. Trading volume was moderate at about 499 million shares worth some 7.21 trillion won ($5.43 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 563 to 301. Foreigners and retail investo

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as eased inflation woes raised hopes for less aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.11 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,491.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average grew 0.1 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.88 percent on hopes that the Fed could slow the pace of its aggressive monetary tightening over eased inflation woes. The US