South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday, tracking Wall Street losses overnight as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve chairman's congressional testimony. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 6.04 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,598.87 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, all three major US equity indexes ended in negative territory, as a recent market rally paused ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's congressional testimony slated for Wednesday and Thursda

Korean Air, Asiana merger result likely to come out in Q3

South Korean stocks slid for the second day in a row Tuesday, as the smaller-than-expected rate cut by China's central bank dampened market sentiment. The local currency inched up against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slipped 4.59 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 2,604.91. Trade volume was moderate at 712.8 million shares worth 10.7 trillion won ($8.35 billion), with decliners outstripping gainers 545 to 325. "The markets had their eyes on whether B

South Korean stocks started lower Tuesday, as investors awaited the Chinese central bank's rate decision and its next monetary policy steps. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 10.18 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,599.32 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The People's Bank of China is expected to cut its benchmark loan prime rate later in the day amid sluggish growth. Investors are hoping to see Beijing roll out fresh stimulus to boost demand. Market observers will als

South Korean stocks retreated Monday, weighed down by hard-line comments from some US Federal Reserve policymakers advocating more interest rate hikes. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 16.29 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 2,609.5. Trading volume was moderate at 711.1 million shares worth 10.95 trillion won ($8.54 billion), with gainers outpacing decliners 466 to 401. "The Fed officials with those comments are o

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday, as some US Federal Reserve officials' comments backing additional rate hikes sapped hopes for an end to its aggressive monetary tightening. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 12.6 points, or 0.48 percent, to 2,613.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Fed Gov. Christopher Waller on Friday said the core inflation was not coming down like he expected. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin advocated more rate hikes, citing persistent i

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, after US economic data pointing to solid consumer demand and softening inflation boosted hopes for an early end to the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.4 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,613.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Wall Street rallied Thursday as optimism grew that the Fed would loosen its grip on interest rate hikes after the latest economic data showed a stronger-t

South Korean stocks fell for the second straight day Thursday, as investors digested the US Federal Reserve's first pause in its aggressive rate hikes in more than a year and its signal that the borrowing rates will likely rise more. The local currency inched down against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 10.54 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,608.54. Trading volume was moderate at 571.7 million shares worth 11.3 trillion won ($8.82 billion), with decliners out

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, as investors digested the US Federal Reserve's pause in raising the interest rates and its signal that there still will be more rate hikes in the coming months. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 12.08 points, or 0.46 percent, to 2,631.16 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The Fed held the interest rates steady in the range of 5.00 percent to 5.25 percent in its policy meeting Wednesday, the first such pause in the series of r

South Korean stocks finished lower Wednesday as investors awaited the outcome of the Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting. The Korean won fell against the US greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 18.87 points, or 0.72 percent, to close at 2,619.08. Trading volume was high at 644 million shares worth 12.9 trillion won ($10.1 billion), with the number of decliners sharply outnumbering gainers 659 to 237. Institutions dumped a net 127.8 billion won worth of local sh

South Korean stocks opened slightly lower Wednesday as investors remained cautious over the Federal Reserve's rate decision later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 6.17 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,631.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.43 percent and the Nasdaq gained 0.83 percent as a modest rise in April inflation fueled hopes for the Fed's rate pause. In Seoul, most shares traded mixed. Market bel

South Korean stocks started higher Tuesday, as investors awaited US inflation data and the Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 11.4 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,640.75 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.56 percent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.53 percent. The US central bank is set to have its two-day meeting starting Tuesday. In Seoul, large-cap shares led the b

Seoul shares ended lower Monday as investors await the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision this week. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 11.81 points, or 0.45 percent, to close at 2,629.35. Trading volume was moderate at 547.41 million shares worth 9.25 trillion won ($7.2 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 576 to 303. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1 percent to 33,876.78 on Friday (US

South Korean stocks started a tad higher Monday ahead of the US Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 3.64 points, or 0.14 percent, to 2,644.8 in the first 15 minutes of trading. In a meeting to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, the US central bank is expected to end its hawkish approach and hold the key rates unchanged. Seoul shares traded mixed across the board. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. stayed flat and it

Seoul shares ended higher Friday amid expectations that the US Federal Reserve may pause its rate hike march next week. The Korean won sharply rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 30.31 points, or 1.16 percent, to close at 2,641.16. Trading volume was moderate at 569.97 million shares worth 10.79 trillion won ($8.4 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 488 to 376. Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 842 billion won worth of stocks, offsetti