The South Korean market on Friday faced heightened volatility in response to Israel's military actions against Iran, with the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunging to its lowest level in 11 weeks. The dip coincided with a weakening of the local currency. The Kospi concluded the day at 2591.86, marking a marginal decrease of 1.63 percent from the previous session. Initially opening at 2,600.69, a decrease of 34.01 from the prior session, the index experienced a sharp downturn

South Korean stocks dipped nearly 1 percent Wednesday to expand their losing streak to a fourth day as investors' concerns heightened on hawkish remarks by US Federal Reserve officials and escalating tension in the Middle East. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged 25.45 points, or 0.98 percent, to close at 2,584.18. Trade volume was a little slim at 400.5 million shares worth 9.5 trillion won (US$6.8 billion), with decliners outp

South Korean stocks started higher Wednesday as investors hunted for bargains following a sharp slide the previous day sparked by escalating tensions in the Middle East. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 8.58 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,618.21 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq edged down 0.1 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2 percent. US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said

South Korea’s total market cap increased by nearly 100 trillion won ($72 billion) during the first quarter of this year, backed by jumps in stock prices in key industries, including semiconductors, data showed Tuesday. According to a report from local corporate tracker Korea CXO Institute, the combined market cap of 2,692 local firms jumped 96 trillion won during the January-March period to reach 2,599 trillion won. The figures exclude the value of preferred shares. The number of stocks wi

South Korean stocks started lower Friday despite overnight US gains as investors await the Bank of Korea's rate decision later in the day. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 16.61 points, or 0.61 percent, to 2,690.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.7 percent and the S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent on a tech rally, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was almost flat. Apple soared 4.3 percent, Nvidia surged 4.1 percent, and Amazon c

Big companies in South Korea increased their investments in research and development activities last year despite decreased earnings, a corporate data tracker said Tuesday. Their combined R&D investments rose 9.4 percent to 73.42 trillion won ($54 billion) in 2023 from 67.14 trillion won a year earlier, according to a recent survey of 224 firms by the data tracker CEO Score. They suffered declines in sales and operating profit due to an economic slowdown but they executed their planned R&

LG Energy Solution invites Arizona state government and local community officials for a construction progress update on its second U.S. stand-alone facility Completion and start of production expected in about two years, with full-scale hiring for thousands of new jobs to begin in the second-half of 2025 The company to further strengthen market competitiveness in the U.S. underpinned by product and technology leadership SEOUL, South Korea, April 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The constru

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo (center) claps at the LG Awards ceremony, held at the LG Academy in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday. The awards, launched in 2019, aim to recognize innovative technologies, products and services across LG affiliates. This year, 98 teams and 724 individuals received awards, including the life science business team at LG Chem that played a role in supplying essential infertility treatments during a supply shortage. "Customers recognize unique value when th

South Korean stocks opened a tad lower Thursday despite gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 1.98 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,753.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks finished higher to end their three-day losing streak on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.2 percent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.5 percent. In Seoul, large-cap shares led the bearish start. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 1.1 percent, and

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-

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

Samsung Group, South Korea’s top conglomerate, said Sunday that its official recruitment in the first half of this year will start Monday, with 19 affiliates joining the large-scale hiring of entry-level workers. The key affiliates include Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Biologics, Samsung SDS and Samsung SDI, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance and The Shilla Hotel. Applicants are required to submit their applications via Samsung’s official recruitment website from

Korean petrochemicals firms are downsizing their businesses as they are grappling with lower demand and higher supply of products from China, according to industry sources Thursday. Lotte Chemical, South Korea’s leading petrochemicals company, has reportedly embarked on the process of selling its Malaysian unit Lotte Chemical Titan Holdings. In addition, its domestic rival LG Chem is said to be in talks with Kuwait Petroleum Corp. to sell a stake in its naphtha cracking center in Yeosu, So

South Korean stocks closed lower Wednesday as investors awaited clues on the US Federal Reserve's future rate direction, with techs and chemicals leading the overall decline. The local currency closed flat against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 7.91 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,641.49. Trade volume was low at 364 million shares worth 9.8 trillion won ($7.38 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 606 to 282. Foreigners offloaded 374.4 billion won worth o

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday after major blue chips finished bearish on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.84 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,640.56 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the US stock market closed lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1.04 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite losing 1.65 percent. US tech giant Apple sharply lost ground amid reports that its sales in China dipped sharply over the first si