S. Korean shares fall on profit taking; won sharply down

South Korean shares closed slightly lower Friday as investors cashed in gains after the market rallied by more than 2 percent the previous session. The local currency fell sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 6.3 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 2,748.56. Trade volume was moderate at 501.3 million shares worth 11.3 trillion won ($8.42 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 485 to 381. Foreigners bought a net 665 billion won worth of stocks,

March 22, 2024

Seoul shares open nearly flat on profit taking

South Korean stocks opened nearly flat Friday after hitting a nearly two-year high the previous session despite overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged down 2.76 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,752.1 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Thursday, the main index rallied by more than 2 percent amid growing hopes for US rate cuts in the near future. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.68 percent to a new high, while the S&P 500 and

March 22, 2024

S. Korean shares jump over 2% on hopes for US rate cuts; won sharply up

South Korean shares rallied by more than 2 percent Thursday amid growing hopes for US rate cuts in the near future. The local currency also rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index surged 64.72 points, or 2.41 percent, to close at 2,754.86, the highest in nearly two years since April 5, 2022 when the index closed at 2,759.20. Trade volume was heavy at 811.8 million shares worth 13.8 trillion won ($10.4 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 655 to 2

March 21, 2024

Seoul shares open sharply higher on hopes for US rate cuts

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Thursday following record-high finishes on Wall Street afforded by hopes for US rate cuts this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 37.38 points, or 1.39 percent, to 2,727.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US Federal Reserve kept its policy rate intact for a fifth consecutive session Wednesday at the 5.25 to 5.50 percent range but signaled as many as three rate cuts within the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed

March 21, 2024

Seoul shares soar over 1% on Samsung

South Korean shares closed more than 1 percent higher Wednesday on a rally in top cap Samsung Electronics and before the results of the Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting. The local currency stayed unchanged against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index surged 33.97 points, or 1.28 percent, to close at 2,690.14. Trade volume was heavy at 710 million shares worth 12.6 trillion won ($9.3 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 481 to 380. Foreign investors turn

March 20, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 23.92 points, or 0.90 percent, to 2,680.10 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.83 percent higher. In Seoul, large caps traded mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 1.10 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix remained flat. Top battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 0.50 percent, wi

March 20, 2024

Seoul shares dip over 1% ahead of Fed rate decision

South Korean stocks slipped more than 1 percent Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Open Market Committee's meeting this week. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 29.67 points, or 1.1 percent, to 2,656.17. Trade volume was moderate at 683.5 million shares worth 10.5 trillion won ($7.88 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 603 to 276. Foreigners sold a net 238 billion won worth of stocks, while indi

March 19, 2024

Seoul shares open lower ahead of FOMC meeting

South Korean stocks started lower Tuesday as investors awaited the US Federal Open Market Committee's meeting this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 27.32 points, or 1.02 percent, to 2,658.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the US stock market closed higher, mainly led by tech shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 0.82 percent. The FOMC is set to start its two-day rate-setting meeting Tuesd

March 19, 2024

S. Korean stocks close higher ahead of US Fed meeting

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher Monday ahead of a US Fed meeting where investors believe signs of a possible rate cut down the road may emerge. The local currency lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 19.00 points, or 0.71 percent, to close at 2,685.84. Trade volume was moderate at 401 million shares worth 9.35 trillion won ($7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 439 to 434. Institutions were the sole buyers, net purchasing 22

March 18, 2024

Seoul shares open slightly higher on tech gains

South Korean stocks opened a tad higher Monday, buoyed by gains in technology stocks. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 0.72 point, or 0.03 percent, to 2,667.56 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Large caps traded mixed while techs and chemicals were in positive terrain. Tech giant Samsung Electronics gained 0.55 percent, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advancing 0.56 percent. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution added 0.75 percent, while its local rival Samsung SDI gained

March 18, 2024

Seoul shares snap 3-day rise on hotter US inflation; won sharply down

South Korean stocks closed nearly 2 percent lower Friday to end a three-session winning streak, as investors locked in profits following hotter than expected US inflation. The local currency fell sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 51.92 points, or 1.91 percent, to 2,666.84. Trade volume was heavy at 575 million shares worth 12.9 trillion won ($9.7 billion), with losers beating winners 557 to 224. Institutional and foreign selling weighed down t

March 15, 2024

Seoul shares open lower on US slump

South Korean stocks opened lower Friday, as investors locked in profits after a three-session winning streak. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 27.51 points, or 1.01 percent, to 2,691.25 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street lost ground after the February producer price index showed US inflation was hotter than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4 percent, and the S&P 500 dropped 0.3 percent. The Nasdaq Composite also shed 0.3 percent

March 15, 2024

NPS to set up San Francisco office in AI, biotech push

Korea's National Pension Service Investment Management, the investment arm of the world's third-largest pension fund, will launch its fourth overseas office in San Francisco before September, in line with its asset allocation strategy to raise alternative and overseas investments. National Pension Service Chief Investment Officer Seo Won-joo boasted that the pension fund’s record high investment return of 13.6 percent, worth 127 trillion won ($96.4 billion), last year is &ldquo

March 14, 2024

Seoul shares end at nearly 2-year high on financial, auto gains

South Korean stocks finished higher for the third straight session to hit an almost 2-year high Thursday on the back of gains in financial, auto and other blue chips. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 25.19 points, or 0.94 percent, to 2,718.76. It marked the highest since April 22, 2022, when the index finished at 2,704.71 points. Trade volume was heavy at 587 million shares worth 13.5 trillion won ($10.24 billion), with winner

March 14, 2024

Seoul shares open tad higher on financial, tech gains

South Korean stocks opened marginally higher Thursday led by financial and tech companies. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.37 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,697.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Financial shares got off to a good start, continuing their upward momentum after gains in the past two sessions. Shinhan Financial added 2.10 percent, and Hana Financial rose 0.99 percent. Tech behemoth Samsung Electronics also rose 0.40 percent, and home appliance maker LG Ele

March 14, 2024

DGB opens fund management unit in Singapore

DGB Financial Group said Wednesday it launched its first overseas subsidiary Hi Asset Management Asia, an asset management arm, in Singapore. DGB Financial Group Chairman Kim Tae-oh, Korean Ambassador to Singapore Hong Jin-wook as well as financial firm officials from Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Keppel Group were in attendance at the opening ceremony held on Tuesday. “We will spare no effort in helping HiAMA serve as a global headquarters for key financial players and groups in Singa

March 13, 2024

Seoul shares end higher on overnight US tech rally

South Korean stocks finished higher Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains driven by megacap tech stocks. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 11.76 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,693.57. Trade volume was moderate at 491 million shares worth 10.7 trillion won ($8.14 billion), with winners beating losers 444 to 429. Foreign investors led the overall gains, buying a net 334 billion won worth of shares, while institutions and re

March 13, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on US stock gains

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains driven by megacap tech stocks. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 8.85 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,690.66 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street logged strong gains as investors shored up Nvidia, Oracle and other big tech stocks despite higher-than-expected February consumer price data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.61 percent, and the S&P 500 gained 1.

March 13, 2024

Seoul shares close higher on tech, battery gains

South Korean stocks ended higher Tuesday as investors scooped up tech, battery and other blue chips. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 21.97 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,681.81. Trade volume was moderate at 390 million shares worth 9.45 trillion won ($7.3 billion). Losers, however, beat winners 495 to 365. Institutions led the overall gains, buying a net 508 billion won, while foreign and retail investors unloaded shares. Han Ji-

March 12, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on tech, energy gains

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Tuesday on gains in tech, energy and other blue chips. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.99 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,665.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Tech shares opened a tad higher, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix adding 0.12 percent and LG Electronics rising 1.15 percent. Energy and chemical shares went up, with leading refiner SK Innovation and top chemical maker LG Chem climbing 1.69 percent and 2.75 percent, respec

March 12, 2024