Seoul shares snap 4-day bull run on foreign selling binge; won sharply down

South Korean shares sank by more than 2 percent Tuesday to snap their four-day winning streak on massive foreign sell-offs. The Korean won sharply lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 100.13 points, or 2.37 percent, to close at 4,121.74, falling back below the 4,200 mark just a day after it reached the milestone. Trade volume was heavy at 421.1 million shares worth 20.7 trillion won ($14.4 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 504 to 380. F

Nov. 4, 2025

Seoul stocks open lower on profit-taking

South Korean shares opened lower Tuesday as investors sought to take profits after the stock market continued its bull run. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 20.47 points, or 0.48 percent, to 4,201.4 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Foreigners and institutions were unloading local shares for profit-taking after the Kospi rallied Monday to breach the 4,200 mark for the first time. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.46 percent on blue-chip tech shares, while

Nov. 4, 2025

$200b US investment to target Korean corporate growth: industry minister

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan on Monday stressed that Korea’s planned $200 billion investment in the United States is designed to benefit Korean companies first, describing it as a strategic initiative rather than a financial handout. “The $200 billion is not money simply given to the United States,” Kim said during a meeting with CEOs of medium-sized companies at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. “It is structured so that our companies expanding into the American market can be the first to benefit.” Kim

Nov. 3, 2025

Seoul stocks soar to record high, breaching 4,200 mark for 1st time

South Korean shares surged nearly 2.8 percent Monday to again set an all-time high, led by sharp gains in big-cap chip and defense shares. The local currency lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index skyrocketed 114.37 points, or 2.78 percent, to 4,221.87. It marked the first time in history the KOSPI surpassed the 4,200 mark. The achievement was made just a session after the index breached the 4,100 mark for the first time Friday. Trade volume was heavy

Nov. 3, 2025

Kospi tops 4,200 on Nvidia-led AI rally

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi soared past the 4,200 mark Monday, buoyed by strong investor optimism over expectations of a major partnership between Korea and US chip giant Nvidia. The Kospi closed at 4,221.87, gaining 114.37 points, or 2.78 percent, from the previous session. It was the first time the index finished above 4,200 points. After opening at 4,123.36, the index quickly broke its previous intraday record of 4,146.72 and climbed further, hitting the 4,200 threshold for the first time j

Nov. 3, 2025

NPS equity holdings top 50% for first time amid push for higher returns

The National Pension Service, Korea's state-run pension fund and the nation's largest institutional investor, is ramping up its push for higher returns, with equities making up more than half of its total investments for the first time in the fund’s history. As of end-August, the fund’s portfolio consisted of 14.8 percent domestic equities and 36.8 percent overseas equities, bringing its total equity allocation to 51.6 percent, according to NPS investment data. It’s the first time the fund has i

Nov. 3, 2025

Seoul stocks open higher on defense, shipbuilding gains

South Korean shares opened higher Monday as big-cap defense and shipbuilding shares kicked off strong ahead of their planned earnings release. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 50.35 points, or 1.23 percent, to 4,157.85 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, major US indexes closed higher, led by sharp gains in Amazon Web Services and Tesla. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.09 percent, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite increased 0.61 percent, and the S&P 500 adde

Nov. 3, 2025

Seoul shares breach 4,100-mark on Nvidia

South Korean stocks closed up for the third consecutive day to set a fresh record high Friday, fueled by investors' optimism over US tech giant Nvidia's artificial intelligence chip supplies to Korean companies. The local currency was trading higher against the US dollar. After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 20.61 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 4,107.5. Trade volume was moderate at 386.2 million shares worth 20.8 trillion won ($14.6 billion), with lo

Oct. 31, 2025

Seoul stocks open lower as US techs tumble

South Korean shares opened lower Friday, tracking a slump in major US techs overnight. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.65 points, or 0.21 percent, to 4,078.24 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 1.57 percent and the S&P 500 shed 0.99 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.23 percent. Major US tech firms, including Microsoft and Meta, fell amid woes over their financial burden on artificial intelligence investment. N

Oct. 31, 2025

Kospi hits record close after topping 4,100

Seoul’s benchmark Kospi pierced the 4,100 mark for the first time Thursday, hitting a fresh intraday record before trimming gains to still finish at an all-time high closing, as mixed signals from trade developments sent the market on a volatile ride. The Kospi ended at 4,086.89, up 0.14 percent from the previous day, extending its record-setting streak for a second straight session. The rally was initially fueled by optimism over Wednesday’s US-Korea trade deal, which propelled the index to ope

Oct. 30, 2025

S. Korean stocks close nearly flat after US-China summit

Seoul stocks shed earlier gains and closed almost flat Thursday as the outcome of a highly anticipated US-China summit was unable to ease trade uncertainties. The local currency rose against the greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.74 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 4,086.89. Trade volume was heavy at 562.3 million shares worth 23.9 trillion won ($16.7 billion). Losers outnumbered gainers 704 to 190. After opening sharply higher, the KOSPI shed earlier gains a

Oct. 30, 2025

S. Korean stocks open higher after breakthrough in trade talks with US

Seoul stocks opened sharply higher Thursday as market sentiment revived after Seoul finalized its tariff deal with Washington the previous day, while the US Federal Reserve cut its key rate for the second time this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 42.89 points, or 1.05 percent, to 4,124.04 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, major US stock indexes closed mixed as Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank might not cut interest rates again this ye

Oct. 30, 2025

Gist of $350b Korea-US investment package

Below is a summary of key outcomes from the $350b South Korea–US trade deal, finalized at Wednesday’s summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, in Gyeongju, South Korea. -- Ed. Total Investment: $350b -$200b cash investment (capped at $20b/year) -$150b for shipbuildingcooperation -Flexible payments to reduce FX volatility, focused only on commercially viable, guaranteed-return projects Trade benefits: - US tariffs on Korean cars cut 25% → 15% - MFN status

Oct. 29, 2025

Kospi hits record high on Korea–US summit optimism

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi surged to a new record high Wednesday, as the Korea–US summit fueled anticipation of a potential trade deal between Seoul and Washington. The Kospi closed at 4,081.15, up 70.74 points, or 1.76 percent, from the previous session, marking its highest-ever finish. The index opened at 4,061.54 but soon retreated to as low as 4,014.84, dragged down by profit-taking. It returned to positive territory around 2 p.m. and climbed to its record intraday high of 4,084.09 before

Oct. 29, 2025

Seoul shares set fresh record high on hopes for Seoul-Washington summit, Nvidia deal

South Korean stocks set a fresh record high Wednesday on hopes for the Seoul-Washington summit and a potential supply deal with Nvidia. The local currency was trading higher against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 70.74 points, or 1.76 percent, to close at 4,081.15. Trade volume was high at 461 million shares worth 21 trillion won (US$14.6 billion), with losers beating gainers 564 to 304. Foreigners sold a net 227.3 billion won worth of local shares, and indi

Oct. 29, 2025