Seoul shares end 5-day losing streak on dovish hopes for interest rates

South Korean stocks finished more than 1 percent higher Wednesday, snapping the five-day losing streak on hopes that the Federal Reserve's further rate hikes could be over. The Korean won stayed unchanged against the US greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 31.14 points, or 1.21 percent, to 2,605.12, marking the first daily gain since Aug. 2. Trading volume was slim at 460.8 million shares worth 10.2 trillion won ($7.75 billion), with winners beating losers 563 to

Aug. 9, 2023

S. Korea to expand market for pet products to 15tr won by 2027

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it plans to expand the size of the pet industry to 15 trillion won ($11.47 billion) by 2027 amid the growing number of households with dogs or cats. The target marks a sharp rise from just 8 trillion won tallied in 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The number of households with dogs or cats came to 6.02 million last year, rising sharply from just 3.64 million in 2012. "To address the evolving marke

Aug. 9, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on large-cap gains

South Korean stocks opened a tad higher Wednesday, led by gains in large-cap shares of techs and chemicals despite losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 16.83 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,590.81 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Wall Street, all three major US stock indexes finished lower Tuesday as credit rating agency Moody's downgraded 10 small- and mid-sized US lenders. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.45 percent, and the tech-savvy

Aug. 9, 2023

Seoul shares down for 5th day; Korean won sharply falls

South Korean stocks ended lower Tuesday as investors took a wait-and-see approach amid concerns over additional rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and China's worse-than-expected trade data. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 6.73 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,573.98, extending its losing streak to a fifth day. Trading volume was moderate at 631.5 million shares worth 12.3 trillion won ($9.3 billion), with losers

Aug. 8, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on US gains amid rate hike woes

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as investors remain concerned over the Federal Reserve's additional rate hikes to tame inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 9.6 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,590.31 in the first 15 minutes of trading. All three major US stock indexes finished higher Monday, snapping their worst weekly decline since March, on upbeat corporate earnings. Investors are keeping an eye on the Fed'

Aug. 8, 2023

Seoul shares down for 4th day ahead of US consumer prices data

South Korean stocks ended lower Monday as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of upcoming major economic releases, including US consumer price data. The local currency gained ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 22.09 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,580.71, extending its losing streak to a fourth day. Trading volume was slim at 497.1 million shares worth 11.8 trillion won ($9 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 519 to 360. Institutio

Aug. 7, 2023

Superconductor-themed stocks rally on hope for breakthrough finding

Stock prices of superconductor-themed shares rebounded Monday, backed by a retail investor frenzy with high hopes on the potential game-changing room temperature superconductor technology. Shares of superconductor industry related firms continued to enjoy a rally from last week after a research team including the Quantum Energy Research Centre said it discovered a room-temperature superconductor called LK-99 on July 22. Related stocks experienced a slight dip on Friday, when skeptical responses

Aug. 7, 2023

[Photo News] Savings back in favor

A bank employee sorts 50,000 won ($38) notes at Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul, Monday. The 50,000 won notes are back in circulation as key interest rates and bank rates for savings accounts have been continuously on the rise since 2021. (Yonhap)

Aug. 7, 2023

Seoul shares start lower on decline in autos, chemicals

South Korean stocks started a tad lower Monday, led by losses in market heavyweights, such as automakers and chemical companies. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 4.23 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,598.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Large caps led the decrease, with No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor declining 1.56 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia falling 2.98 percent. Top oil refinery SK Innovation retreated 1.48 percent, and major chemicals maker LG Chem dropped 0.94

Aug. 7, 2023

Seoul shares open tad higher ahead of US jobs data

South Korean stocks started a tad higher Friday as investors await the US' July job data, which is expected to give clues for the outlook of the Federal Reserve's monetary tightening policy. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 6.46 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,611.85 in the first 15 minutes of trading. All three major US indexes finished a tad lower Thursday was investors digested higher Treasury yields and latest corporate earnings ahead of US job data for July set t

Aug. 4, 2023

Seoul shares end lower on foreign, institutional sell-off

Seoul shares ended lower Thursday on heavy sell-off by foreign investors and institutions after the downgrading of the US credit rating. The South Korean won declined against the US dollar. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 0.42 percent, or 11.08 points, to 2,605.39. Trading volume was at 773.9 million shares worth 14.6 trillion won ($11.2 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 523 to 345. All three US major stock indexes finished lower Wednes

Aug. 3, 2023

[KH Explains] Inheritance tax reform postponed amid criticism over 'silver spoon'

Major changes in the inheritance tax, one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's key campaign promises, have been postponed until next year's general election, as the reform could intensify criticism over tax cuts for the wealthy. On July 27, the government unveiled the tax code revision plan to be submitted to the National Assembly. Providing a tax reduction on the inheritance of family business for large conglomerates was not included in the proposal, as the government has been cautious on

Aug. 3, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on tech losses

South Korean stocks turned lower after starting a tad higher Thursday on tech losses after the downgrading of the US credit rating. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 10.85 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,605.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. All three US major stock indexes finished lower Wednesday as investors took profits on monthslong gains after Fitch Ratings downgraded the US credit grade to AA+ from AAA for the first time since 2011, citing "repeated debt limit s

Aug. 3, 2023

Seoul shares snap 4-day winning streak on concerns over US economy

Seoul shares ended sharply lower Wednesday, breaking their four-day winning streak, as the downgrade of the US credit rating stoked investors' concerns. The South Korean won declined against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 1.9 percent, or 50.6 points, to 2,616.47. Trading volume was heavy at 694.5 million shares worth 15.7 trillion won ($12.1 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 652 to 230. The tech-heavy Kosdaq dropped more than 3 percent.

Aug. 2, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on US losses

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street losses, as most big-cap shares fell across the board. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 12.05 points, or 0.45 percent, to 2,655.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Wall Street finished mixed Tuesday as investors took a breather from a monthslong rally ahead of earnings reports from major companies, including Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., and US jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average

Aug. 2, 2023

Seoul shares up for 4th day on tech, auto gains

South Korean stocks extended their winning streak to a fourth day Tuesday, thanks to advances in techs and autos. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 1.3 percent, or 34.49 points, to 2,667.07. Trading volume was at 483.9 million shares worth 15.7 trillion won ($12.2 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 626 to 257. Foreign investors purchased a total of 193.9 billion won worth of shares, and institutions bought a combine

Aug. 1, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on tech, bio gains

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday, drive by gains in tech and bio shares amid hopes of a soft landing for the US economy. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 15.09 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,647.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading. All three major US stock indexes finished higher Monday on upbeat corporate earnings. The S&P 500 closed at a 16-month high of around 4,590. In Seoul, IT and bio shares drove up the Kospi, while tech blue chips traded mixe

Aug. 1, 2023

Seoul shares up for third day as US data signals cooling inflation

South Korean stocks closed 0.93 percent higher Monday, after US data signaling cooling inflation fueled investor appetite for risky bets. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 24.26 points to 2,632.58. Trading volume was at 447.5 million shares worth 15.5 trillion won ($12.2 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 712 to 178. "The slower-than-expected in US personal consumption expenditures price index raised hopes for

July 31, 2023

[KH Explains] Commercial real estate crash punishes investors

Korean investment firms are at the risk of painful losses in their commercial real estate investments with high interest rates and a shift to teleworking. With major economies tightening monetary policies, and the post-pandemic trend of working from home pushing up office vacancy rates, commercial office buildings -- once perceived as a reliable investment -- have become a liability. Igis Asset Management’s 370 billion won ($290 million) investment in the Trianon office building in Frankfu

July 31, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on softening US inflation data

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Monday, as US data pointing to a loosening of inflation boosted investor confidence. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 16.91 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,625.23 in the first 15 minutes of trading. All three US major stock indexes finished higher Friday, after the personal consumption expenditures price index, an inflation gauge favored by the Federal Reserve, showed it rose 3 percent in June from a year earlier, the smallest rise

July 31, 2023