South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday as investors digested the latest US inflation data that met market expectations while waiting for this week's Federal Reserve meeting. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 7.67 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,527.6 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The United States announced its on-year inflation came to 3.1 percent in November, falling in line with the market estimate. Investors, meanwhile, also waited for hints over the future dir

South Korean stocks closed higher for the third straight trading day on Tuesday amid the growing hope over a possible slowdown in US inflation and the Federal Reserve's potential signal for rate cuts next year. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 9.91 points, or 0.39 percent, to close at 2,535.27, extending its winning streak to a third day. Trade volume was low at 365 million shares worth 7.49 trillion won ($5.7 billion), with losers outpacing winner

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday as investors awaited this week's US inflation data, as well as the Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 12.57 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,537.93 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The United States is set to release its consumer price index Tuesday, with investors also closely eyeing the future monetary policy direction from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. In Seoul, tech shar

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher on Monday as investors awaited clues over future US monetary policy directions ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 7.51 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 2,525.36 Trade volume was moderate at 424 million shares worth 7.97 trillion won ($6 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 479 to 375. Foreigners bought a net 4.46 billion won worth of shares, while individuals offloaded a net

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting slated for this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.58 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,526.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Investors are awaiting this week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting, with its key rate anticipated to remain steady between 5.25 and 5.50 percent. In Seoul, tech shares traded higher, with LG Energy Solution adding 0.23 percent and SK hyn

South Korean stocks gained more than 1 percent Friday, led by the strong performance of big-cap tech shares that tracked overnight gains on Wall Street. The local currency sharply rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 25.78 points, or 1.03 percent, to finish at 2,517.85. The secondary KOSDAQ jumped 2.11 percent to end at 830.37. The Kospi's trade volume was moderate at 421.4 million shares worth 7.69 trillion won (US$5.88 billion), with winners ou

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 20.03 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,512.10 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, all three major US indexes gained ground, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite up 1.37 percent, as communication and IT shares rallied on favorable news in the artificial intelligence sector. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, jumped more than 5 percent on t

South Korean stocks ended lower Thursday as investors were concerned the US economy may be losing steam. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 3.31 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 2,492.07. Trade volume was moderate at 440.6 million shares worth 8.03 trillion won ($6.06 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 525 to 354. Institutions dumped a combined 204.8 billion won worth of shares, while individual and foreign inve

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Thursday as tech shares took a cue from overnight losses in US heavyweights, like Nvidia and Microsoft. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 8.91 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,486.47 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, all three major US indexes lost ground despite jobs data that reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve may start cutting its rates early next year. AI chip leader Nvidia sank 2.3 percent, while Microsof

Mirae Asset Securities, Korea’s largest investment bank and securities firm, said Wednesday that it has appointed Vice Chairman Heo Sun-ho as CEO. He will lead the company’s sprawling business together with Vice Chairman Kim Mi-seob, whose appointment was confirmed earlier in October. With Heo’s appointment, which was approved at a board of directors meeting earlier on the day, the company has completed a generational shift in its long-held dual leadership system. Heo will co

South Korean stocks closed nearly flat Wednesday as major shares ended in mixed territory. The local currency lost ground against the US dollar. Swinging between gains and losses, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1.1 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 2,495.38. Trade volume was slim at 384.3 million shares worth 7.51 trillion won ($5.71 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 499 to 371. Institutions scooped up a net 240.5 billion won worth of shares, while individual a

Top banks halt Hong Kong-tied ELS sales; authorities scramble to set compensation rate for investors

South Korean stocks started a tad higher Wednesday led by gains in tech and financial shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.65 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,499.93 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, U.S. stocks finished mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreating 0.2 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edging up 0.3 percent. In Seoul, chipmakers lent support to the positive opening, with No. 1 Samsung Electronics rising 0.84 percent and

Seoul shares got off to a weak start Tuesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 17.21 points, or 0.68 percent, to 2,497.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Monday, all three major US indexes lost ground ahead of the release of key job market data later this week, including an October update on job openings. The S&P 500 gave back 0.54 percent after hitting its highest level in over a year the previous session. The Dow Jon

South Korean stocks ended higher Monday amid speculation that the US Federal Reserve may start cutting its rates next year amid eased inflation woes. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.94 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,514.95. Trade volume was moderate at 489.9 million shares worth 8.5 trillion won ($6.5 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers 458 to 411. Institutions and foreigners bought shares worth 170.7 bi