Seoul shares ended lower for a fourth straight day Monday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the release of major US economic data, which will give clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 10.26 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,567.82. Trade volume was slim at 313.6 million shares worth 6.7 trillion won ($5.1 billion), with losers outpacing winners 500 to 358. Instit

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as big-cap technology shares gained ground. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 9.90 points, or 0.38 percent, to 2,587.98 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 0.91 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.51 percent. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution added 0.48 percent, while its smaller rival Samsung SDI shed 0.56 percent. IT stocks were bullish, with internet portal operator Na

Seoul shares ended lower for a third straight day Friday, after robust employment data weighed on expectations for an early rate cut by the Federal Reserve this year. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.94 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,578.08. The Kospi has fallen 2.9 percent this week. Trade volume was moderate at 514.78 million shares worth 8.27 trillion won ($6.28 billion), with losers outpacing winners 515 to 343. Overnig

Seoul shares ended lower for a second straight day Thursday, after the latest Fed minutes indicated interest rates will remain at a high level for some time. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 20.29 points, or 0.78 percent, to close at 2,587.02. Trade volume was moderate at 761.45 million shares worth 8.84 trillion won ($6.8 billion), with losers outpacing winners 614 to 277. Institutions sold a net 800 billion won worth of stocks, out

Seoul shares opened lower Thursday, following an overnight slump in US stocks, after the latest Fed minutes indicated interest rates will remain at high levels for some time. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 10.97 points, or 0.42 percent, to 2,596.34 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8 percent to 37,430.19, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 1.2 percent to 14,592.21. Fed minutes from its December meeting indicated rates cou

South Korean stocks dropped by more than 2 percent Wednesday as investors sought to cash in recent gains ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's latest minutes. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 62.50 points, or 2.34 percent, to close at 2,607.31, ending its four-day winning streak. Trade volume was moderate at 455.9 million shares worth 9.99 trillion won ($7.65 billion), with losers outpacing winners 610 to 279. Foreigners

Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday after a mixed close on Wall Street as investors await the release of the Federal Reserve's minutes for clues on the US central bank's future rate plans. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 31.05 points, or 1.2 percent, to 2,638.76 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.07 percent to 37,715.04, but the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 1.6 percent to 14,765.94. The Fed's latest minutes ar

Seoul shares closed higher Tuesday, the first trading day of the year, helped by tech gains and an improving global appetite for risky assets. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 14.53 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 2,669.8, extending its winning streak to a fourth day. Trade volume was moderate at 404.2 million shares worth 9.5 trillion won ($7.3 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 449 to 436. Institutions and foreigners b

President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) attends the opening ceremony of the nation’s first stock trading day of the year at the Korean Stock Exchange in Seoul on Tuesday, becoming the first Korean president to do so. From left are Seo Yoo-seok, chairman of the Korea Financial Investment Association; Rep. Yu Eui-dong from the ruling People Power Party; Sohn Byung-doo, chairman of the Korea Exchange; Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok; Financial Services Commission Chairman Kim Joo-hyun; and Lee Bok-

Foreign investors snapped up investments in Samsung Electronics last year, net buying more than 16 trillion won ($12.31 billion) worth of shares, buoyed by the expectations of a recovery of the global chip industry. In 2023, foreign investors scooped up a net 16.73 trillion won of shares in Samsung Electronics, the largest amount since related data was compiled from 1999, according to the nation’s sole bourse operator Korea Exchange. It also marked a turnaround from their net selling stanc

Ex-Elliott executive denies short-term profit-seeking speculation amid heightened shareholder activism at Samsung’s de facto holding company

South Korean stocks finished moderately higher Wednesday on foreign and individual purchases. The local currency rose slightly against the US dollar. Swinging between gains and losses, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 10.91 points, or 0.42 percent, to close at 2,613.5. Trade volume was higher at 345.9 million shares worth 10.3 trillion won ($7.6 billion), but decliners outnumbered gainers 591 to 300. Foreigners scooped up a net 231.1 billion won worth of local shares and in

South Korean stocks started a tad higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 1.09 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,603.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stock indices gained ground, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.43 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.54 percent. In Seoul, tech and battery shares led the positive start. Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chipmaker, inc

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher Tuesday as investors remained cautious after a recent rally stemming from the US central bank's dovish stance. The local currency rose against the greenback. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.08 points, or 0.12 percent, to close at 2,602.59, ending the two-day losing streak. Trade volume was moderate at 429.4 million shares worth 9.4 trillion won ($7.26 billion), but decliners outnumbered gainers 491 to

South Korean stocks opened nearly unchanged on Tuesday as major shares traded in mixed territory. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged down 0.48 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,599.03 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market heavyweights were mixed, with tech giant Samsung Electronics remaining flat and its chipmaking rival SK hynix gaining 0.36 percent. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 0.24 percent, but its chemicals-making unit LG Chem rose 1.22 percent. Top aut