Seoul shares closed higher Thursday to extend their winning streak to a third day as investors also wait for the US inflation data. The local currency gained against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 23.36 points, or 0.81 percent, to 2,891.35. Trade volume was moderate at 453 million shares worth 14.4 trillion won ($10.4 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 438 to 414. Foreigners bought a net 606 billion won, while individuals sold a net 351 billion won.

Seoul shares opened higher Thursday as Wall Street rallied after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will not wait until inflation "gets all the way down to 2 percent" for a rate cut. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 27.35 points, or 0.95 percent, to 2,895.29 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 rose to record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also increased 1.09 percent.

Seoul shares closed nearly flat Wednesday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the release of the latest US inflation data that may give more clues on future rate directions. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index inched up 0.61 points, or 0.02 percent, to 2,867.99. Trade volume was moderate at 459 million shares worth 11.2 trillion won ($8 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 432 to 423. Foreigners sold a net 599 billion won, w

Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday, as investors sat on the sidelines after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell fell short of offering more details on the path of the Fed's rate policy. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 5.96 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,861.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 rose to record highs, although the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.13 percent. During his congression

Seoul shares closed slightly higher Tuesday as investors awaited a congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell this week. The local currency gained against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 9.62 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,867.38. Trade volume was moderate at 443.2 million shares worth 10.8 trillion won ($7.83 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 453 to 406. Foreigners bought a net 313 billion won, while individuals offloaded a net

Revival of Trump's “America First” economic policies would drag Korean stocks down, weaken won, says expert

Seoul shares opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street buoyed by technology shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 10 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,867.76 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 rose to hit record highs as investors scooped up technology shares, including Apple and Nvidia. Investors have been waiting for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's congressional testimony and

Seoul shares closed lower to snap their three-day rise Monday as investors moved to lock in profits. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 4.47 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,857.76. Trade volume was moderate at 420.2 million shares worth 9.8 trillion won ($7.1 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 518 to 344. The Kospi declined as retail investors and institutions sold shares worth 184.2 billion won and 347.6 billion won, respect

Seoul shares opened slightly higher Monday as last week's US jobs data buoyed hopes the Federal Reserve will start cutting its rates this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 2.23 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,864.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, Wall Street closed higher as data showed US hiring moderated in June, bolstering expectations the Fed's policy pivot would start in September. The eyes of investors are now on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell

Seoul shares opened higher Friday as investors await US jobs data this week for clues on the Federal Reserve's future policy path. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 15.66 points, or 0.55 percent, to 2,840.60 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 358 billion won ($260 million) worth of stocks, offsetting individuals' stock selling valued at 352 billion won. The US jobs report due Friday is forecast to show slowing job grow

South Korean shares hit the highest level in nearly two and half years on Thursday, with much-awaited tax incentive plans for the Korean government’s program to boost the stock market taking shape. The benchmark Kospi rose 1.11 percent to close at 2,824.94, reaching the highest since January in 2022. Institutional and foreign investors were net buyers of shares worth 1.11 trillion won ($803.8 million) and 321.5 billion won, respectively, while retail investors sold off 1.41 billion of sh

South Korean stocks finished more than 1 percent higher to hit this year's high Thursday as investor sentiment was boosted by revived hopes for a rate cut in the United States and Samsung Electronics' upcoming earnings guidance. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 30.93 points, or 1.11 percent, to 2,824.94. It marked the highest closing price since Jan. 21, 2022, when it finished at 2,834.29. Trade volume was slim at 386.4 million shares worth 12.8 trillion won ($9.26

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street led by hopes for a possible rate hike. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 23.37 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,817.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading. In the United States, the S&P 500 index and tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose to hit record highs backed by Tesla and Nvidia amid softening labor data raising hopes for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve. In Seoul, market bellwet

President Yoon calls for structural reforms to improve livelihoods, sharpen AI chipmaking, quantum technologies

South Korean stocks finished higher Wednesday as investor sentiment was boosted by Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell's comments for a possible interest rate cut. The local currency traded weaker against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.15 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,794.01, rebounding from the previous session's 0.84 percent drop. Trade volume was slim at 334.2 million shares worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.26 billion), with decliners beating gain