Global rally lifts sentiment as Korean markets set to reopen

As South Korea prepares to resume trading Friday after a weeklong Chuseok holiday, global assets from stocks to gold surged to new highs on Thursday, signaling continued strength for Korean markets after the break. On Wall Street, major indices extended their climb Wednesday, with the Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 closing at record highs, up 1.1 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed, ending just below the flatline. The rally easily erased T

Oct. 9, 2025

Kospi's tech rally expected to slow down this month: analysts

The boom of tech and semiconductor shares, a major factor in the advancement of the South Korean stock market this year, could take a breather throughout the rest of October from profit-taking, analysts predicted Thursday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9 percent from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, according to data from Yonhap Infomax, the financial news and information arm of Yonhap News Agency. Semiconductors led the overall gains, with market top-cap Samsung Electronics advancing

Oct. 9, 2025

Rising home prices in Seoul prompt speculation of new curbs after holidays

Despite the government’s June 27 lending curbs that briefly cooled the housing market, property prices in Seoul are once again on a steep rise, heightening expectations for further policy action after the Chuseok holiday. Apartment prices in Seoul rose 0.27 percent in the fifth week of September, according to data from the state-run Korea Real Estate Board Wednesday. The pace of growth has accelerated for three straight weeks, increasing from 0.08 percent to 0.09 percent, 0.12 percent and 0.19 p

Oct. 8, 2025

Tax agency seizes over W146b in unpaid taxes through seizure of virtual assets

Tax authorities have collected over 146 billion won ($104 million) in unpaid taxes by seizing virtual assets from delinquent taxpayers over the past five years, data showed Tuesday. A total of 14,140 individuals had their virtual assets seized between 2021 and 2024, according to the data submitted by the National Tax Service to Rep. Kim Young-jin of the ruling Democratic Party. When a taxpayer defaults, the head of the local tax office notifies the virtual asset service provider, then freezes th

Oct. 7, 2025

IPOs in S. Korea rise 19% through Q3

Initial public offerings in South Korea rose 19 percent in the first nine months of the year from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday. The proceeds from IPOs stood at 3.41 trillion won ($2.43 billion) in the January-September period, compared with 2.85 trillion won for the same period last year, according to the data from consulting service provider IR Kudos Corp. A total of 55 companies made their debuts on the main bourse KOSPI and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ markets during the cited period, up from

Oct. 7, 2025

From Baby Shark to G-Dragon: Korea’s next wave of IPO hopefuls

A string of long-awaited listings is lining up on South Korea’s capital markets, as companies seek to ride a rebound in investor sentiment. The Kospi’s recent record highs have drawn retail and foreign buyers back, prompting firms that had shelved offerings to revive their plans. The pipeline reflects both pent-up demand and pressure on companies to deliver exits to investors. From household names like "Baby Shark" creator Pinkfong and fashion giant Musinsa to internet-only lender K bank and G-D

Oct. 6, 2025

Securities firms set to further rise on increased turnover, friendly policies

Shares in securities firms, which have already doubled this year, are widely expected to further advance down the road on the back of increased turnover and market-friendly steps, industry watchers said Monday. According to the Korea Exchange, the index tracking listed securities firms' stock movement has nearly doubled this year, joining the ranks of top-performing sectors. The benchmark index, the KOSPI, has rallied by more than 43 percent so far this year, and retail investors flocked to the

Oct. 6, 2025

Samsung drives pronounced equity dispersion in Korean market: S&P exec

The South Korean stock market’s diverged performance, also known as equity dispersion, stands out among global peers, driven by its heavy reliance on tech giant Samsung Electronics and the impact of US tariffs, according to an executive at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Equity dispersion refers to the degree of divergence in returns among individual stocks within the same market. While the overall market may move up or down in response to macroeconomic data releases and events, individual stocks move in

Oct. 3, 2025

Seoul shares break 3,500 for 1st time on chip rally

South Korean stocks surged Thursday, climbing past the 3,500 mark for the first time, as investors welcomed news of business partnerships between OpenAI and top chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The local currency strengthened against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 93.38 points, or 2.7 percent, to close at 3,549.21, surpassing the previous record high of 3,486.19 set on Sept. 23. Trade volume was heavy at 394.92 million shares worth 18.57 trillion

Oct. 2, 2025

Seoul shares open sharply higher on tech gains

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains, as investors bought big-cap tech shares ahead of the extended Chuseok holiday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 68.84 points, or 1.99 percent, to 3,524.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading. It was the first time the index topped the 3,500 level in intraday trading. Foreigners were net buyers, while retail and institutional investors offloaded shares. Overnight, Wall Street closed hi

Oct. 2, 2025

Seoul shares up near 1% on rate cut hope, robust export data; won declines

South Korean stocks closed nearly 1 percent higher Wednesday on reviving rate cut hopes and better-than-anticipated September export data. The local currency edged down against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 31.23 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 3,455.83, rebounding from a 0.19 percent drop in the previous session. Trade volume was moderate at 488.7 million shares worth 12.2 trillion won ($8.69 billion), with losers beating gainers 476 to 385. Foreigner

Oct. 1, 2025

Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 24.83 points, or 0.73 percent, to 3,449.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks closed higher as investors see a looming shutdown of the Washington government would affect key economic data and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.18 percent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.31 percent. In Seoul, major sto

Oct. 1, 2025

Seoul stocks end lower on US government shutdown woes

Seoul stocks closed slightly lower Tuesday as investors remained cautious over uncertainties surrounding a looming government shutdown in the United States. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 6.61 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 3,424.6. Trade volume was moderate at 511.5 million shares worth 10.7 trillion won ($7.6 billion). Losers outnumbered gainers 584 to 279. Institutional and retail investors were net sellers, offloading 55.

Sept. 30, 2025

Seoul stocks open higher after AI-led rebound on Wall Street

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, following an overnight rise on Wall Street. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 7.77 points, or 0.23 percent, to 3,438.98 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, major US stock indexes gathered ground as AI stocks, including Nvidia, rebounded, following a bearish run driven by skepticism over the sector's profitability. Traders are also keeping an eye on the US nonfarm payrolls report due Friday, which is expected to provide further detai

Sept. 30, 2025

Seoul shares sharply rebound on reviving rate cut hope; won sharply up

South Korean stocks rose more than 1 percent Monday, rebounding from the previous session's steep drop, as reviving hopes for another rate cut by the Federal Reserve encouraged foreign buying. The Korean won rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 45.16 points, or 1.33 percent, to close at 3,431.21, ending a three-day losing streak through Friday, when the index lost 2.45 percent. Trade volume was moderate at 412.8 million shares worth 9.94 trill

Sept. 29, 2025