Seoul shares fall ahead of US inflation data release

South Korean stocks closed 0.79 percent lower Tuesday, as investors kept a cautious mode ahead of the release of US inflation data that will offer clues as to what direction the Federal Reserve will take in its interest rate hike cycle. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 20.30 points to finish at 2,536.58. Trading volume was light at 354.5 million shares worth 8.78 trillion won ($6.61 billion), with decliners outstripping gain

Sept. 12, 2023

Seoul shares open higher ahead of inflation data

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Tuesday, as investors await US inflation data for August due out later this week that will offer clues as to what direction the Federal Reserve will take in its interest rate hike cycle. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.03 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,558.91 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The United States is set to release the consumer price index for August on Wednesday, with the reading on producer prices to be released th

Sept. 12, 2023

Seoul shares snap 4-day losing streak ahead of key economic data

South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Monday ahead of key economic data to be released later this week, ending a four-day losing streak. The local currency gained ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 9.2 points, or 0.36 percent, to finish at 2,556.88. Trading volume was moderate at 406.6 million shares worth 8.21 trillion won ($6.17 billion), with gainers outpacing decliners 507 to 355. Foreigners and institutions bought a combined net 56.

Sept. 11, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on tech, auto losses

South Korean stocks started a tad lower Monday as big-cap tech and auto stocks traded in negative territory. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 7.06 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,540.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dropped 0.28 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix decreased 0.44 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.65 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution skidded 0.79 percent. Major online portal operator

Sept. 11, 2023

[KH explains] Why Mirae Asset bets big on expanding presence in India

India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, is one of the strategic markets where South Korea’s Mirae Asset Financial Group has poured considerable resources into expanding its presence. Amid industry-wide efforts to de-risk from China more recently, industry watchers say Mirae Asset’s years-long investment could pay off “soon.” Over the past years, the Korean financial giant has been making bold investments in the fast-growing country, broadening its portfolio from s

Sept. 10, 2023

Seoul shares down for 4th day on tech losses, rate woes

Seoul shares ended lower Friday following tech losses on Wall Street amid concerns over China's ban on Apple Inc.'s use by government officials and the Federal Reserve's possible rate hikes. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.58 point, or 0.02 percent, to close at 2,547.68, extending its losses to the fourth session. The KOSPI has risen 0.6 percent this week. Trading volume was moderate at 386.53 million shares worth 7

Sept. 8, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on US tech losses

Seoul shares opened lower Friday, tracking tech losses on Wall Street, amid concerns over China's ban on Apple Inc.'s use. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.07 point to 2,548.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading. China plans to expand its ban on the use of iPhones in government agencies and state-owned companies. The move is expected to deal a blow to global big tech companies that heavily rely on China, analysts said. In Seoul, tech and auto stocks were the lead

Sept. 8, 2023

Seoul shares down for 3rd day amid rate hike woes

Seoul shares ended lower Thursday amid investor concerns that the US Federal Reserve may raise interest rates further this year following stronger-than-expected economic data. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 15.08 points, or 0.59 percent, to close at 2,548.26, extending its losses to the third session. Trading volume was moderate at 370.56 million shares worth 8.04 trillion won ($6 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 696 to 186.

Sept. 7, 2023

Seoul shares open lower amid rate hike concerns

Seoul shares opened lower Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street, as better-than-expected US economic data bolstered the case for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates further this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 6.35 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,556.99 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6 percent to 34,443.19 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 1.1 percent to 13,872.47. The Institute for Supply Mana

Sept. 7, 2023

Seoul shares down for 2nd day on high oil prices, rate hike woes

South Korean stocks finished lower Wednesday, as rising global oil prices renewed concerns about inflation and the continued push for monetary tightening by major economies. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 18.84 points, or 0.73 percent, to close at 2,563.34, extending a losing streak to the second session. Trading volume was moderate at 415.9 million shares worth 7.55 trillion won ($5.66 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 5

Sept. 6, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on renewed inflation woes

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Wednesday as an uptick in global oil prices and US federal bank officials' comments suggesting more interest rate hikes in the future renewed inflation concerns. After starting marginally lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was moving almost flat, or down 2.32 points, at 2,579.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Fed Gov. Christopher Waller said Tuesday the Fed has room to proceed carefully with its monetary tightening as rece

Sept. 6, 2023

Seoul shares end lower on profit taking; won sharply down

South Korean stocks ended slightly lower Tuesday, as investors moved to lock in profits from recent gains while awaiting cues for the Federal Reserve's future policy path. The local currency sharply fell against the dollar. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 2.37 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 2,582.18, ending a two-day winning streak. Trading volume was a bit slim at 377.33 million shares worth 7.36 trillion won ($5.54 billion), with losers out

Sept. 5, 2023

Hana Financial head meets with global investors in Hong Kong

The chairman of Hana Financial Group met with foreign investors through an investor relations event held in Hong Kong, Tuesday to expand the Korean banking group's presence in the global financial market. At the event, Chairman Ham Young-joo shared the financial achievements of the financial group and mid-term growth strategies while boasting its sound asset quality and environmental, social, corporate governance (ESG) efforts. The two-day event wraps up on Wednesday. He also explained the

Sept. 5, 2023

Seoul shares open lower ahead of Fed officials' view on rate policy

South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday amid a lack of fresh leads, as investors wait to hear comments from key US federal bank officials on the outlook of the interest rate hike cycle. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 4.53 points, or 0.18 percent, to 2,580.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US stock markets were closed Monday for Labor Day. European stocks finished almost flat as China's announcement on a stimulus to prop up the troubled property sector had li

Sept. 5, 2023

Seoul shares up for 2nd day amid growing Fed rate pause outlook

South Korean stocks closed higher for the second consecutive session Monday on growing optimism the US Federal Reserve will pause the interest rate hike in the next month's policy meeting after key unemployment data showed a cooling economy. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) advanced 20.84 points, or 0.81 percent, to finish at 2,584.55. Trading volume was moderate at 337.3 million shares worth 8.57 trillion won ($6.49 bill

Sept. 4, 2023

Seoul shares open higher amid growing Fed rate pause outlook

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday on growing expectations the US Federal Reserve will not raise the interest rate in its next policy meeting after key unemployment data reflected a cooling economy. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) rose 7.31 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,571.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US unemployment rate jumped to 3.8 percent in August, the Labor Department said Friday, and wage growth slowed. The fresh readings came as a reminder th

Sept. 4, 2023

Seoul shares open nearly flat amid rate pause prospects

South Korean stocks opened almost flat Friday amid the outlook that the US Federal Reserve is likely to pause the interest rate hikes in its next policy meeting in September. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.84 points, or 0.03 percent, to 2,557.11 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks fluctuated in and out of positive terrain in the 15-minute period. Wall Street ended mixed Thursday as investors cemented bets the Fed will pause the interest rate hike, after data showed

Sept. 1, 2023

Seoul shares snap 3-day rise amid US rate pause outlook

South Korean stocks closed marginally lower Thursday, snapping a three-day winning streak, amid growing expectations the US Federal Reserve may pause the interest rate hike after a set of fresh economic data signaled a cooling economy. The local currency inched up against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 4.95 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 2,556.27. Trading volume was moderate at 461.5 million shares worth 10.8 trillion won ($8.16 billion), with decliners

Aug. 31, 2023

Seoul shares open higher amid US rate pause outlook

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as the latest US data bolstered bets that the US Federal Reserve may pause the interest rate hike in the next policy meeting. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.57 points, or 0.18 percent, to 2,565.79 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US economy grew at a 2.1 percent annual pace in the second quarter, falling short of a 2.4 percent expansion estimate. Payrolls in the private sector slow

Aug. 31, 2023

Seoul shares up for 3rd day on hope for Fed's rate hike pause

Seoul shares ended higher Wednesday, as investors speculate that the US Federal Reserve may pause its tightening campaign. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.06 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,561.22. Trading volume was moderate at 356.81 million shares worth 7.64 trillion won ($5.8 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 461 to 395. Institutions bought a net 178.42 billion won worth of stocks, offsetting foreigners and

Aug. 30, 2023