Seoul stocks opened lower on Tuesday, tracking losses on Wall Street, as concerns grow that the US Federal Reserve may continue its aggressive monetary tightening following strong services data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 16.19 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,403.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US service sector activity unexpectedly picked up in November, raising concerns that the Fed may not imminently slow down the pace of rate increases. Fed Chair Jerome Powe

Seoul shares closed lower on Monday as investors remain concerned that the Federal Reserve may continue its aggressive monetary tightening following a stronger-than-anticipated US jobs report. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 15.01 points, or 0.62 percent, to 2,419.32. Trading volume was moderate at 379.8 million shares worth 7.6 trillion won ($5.87 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 446 to 407. Institutions and forei

  South Korea's foreign reserves increased in November as the dollar-converted value of holdings rose thanks to the greenback's fall, central bank data showed Monday. The country's foreign reserves stood at $416.1 billion as of end-November, up $2.09 billion from the previous month, according to the data provided by the Bank of Korea. It marked the first growth in four months. The rise came as the value of its non-dollar holdings increased when converted into the dollar thanks to the greenb

Seoul shares opened lower Monday as investors are concerned that a stronger-than-expected US jobs report may lead to aggressive tightening by the Federal Reserve. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 2.34 points, or 0.10 percent, to 2,431.99 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index gained 1.08 percent last week to end at 2,434.33 Friday as the Fed suggested the central bank is heading for a slowdown of rate hikes after four successive 75 basis-point increases to tame inflati

Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo (front, center left) and celebrity psychiatrist and author Oh Eun-young (front, center right) pose for a picture following a "healing concert" in Seo-gu, Incheon, Friday, for family members of Hana employees to share their various concerns. Some 500 attendees participated in the event in person, while 2,000 others joined via video links. (Hana Financial Group)

South Korea’s largest private equity firm Hahn & Company said Friday it has completed the acquisition of the industrial film business of SK Group affiliate SKC in a deal worth 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion). The latest deal is the largest merger and acquisition closed in the country this year amid M&A jitters globally. The company said SKC’s industrial film business has full potential as its products are widely used in advanced technologies for the display, mobile and se

South Korean stocks opened lower Friday, as investors took a breather after recent rallies fueled by optimism that the US Federal Reserve may slow the pace of interest rate hikes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 21.94 points, or 0.88 percent, to 2,457.90 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Latest US data showed its manufacturing contracted last month for the first time in 2 1/2 years, with a measurement of consumer spending having risen at a slower-than-expected pace in Octo

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Thursday, boosted by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks signaling smaller rate hikes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 24.23 points, or 0.98 percent, to 2,496.76 shortly after the opening bell. It briefly breached the 2,500-point mark. Speaking at a Brookings Institution event Wednesday, Powell indicated the Fed could slow down the pace of its rate hikes, cementing the view that the central bank will go with a 50 ba

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday, as investors were cautious ahead of an upcoming speech by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which may offer clues on the future direction of interest rate hikes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 11.68 points, or 0.48 percent, to 2,421.71 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Powell is scheduled to speak on the economic outlook at a Brookings Institution session later this week, at which he will likely give a guideline on when th

South Korean stocks snapped a two-session losing streak to close higher Tuesday, as worries about China's strict COVID-19 lockdown policy eased with growing expectations for an eventual reopening. The local currency rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 25.12 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 2,433.39. Trading volume was moderate at 522.6 million shares worth 6.35 trillion won ($4.79 billion) with advancing issues outstripping decline

South Korean stocks turned a tad higher after a weak start Tuesday, amid concerns over China's strict COVID-19 lockdowns and hawkish remarks by US Federal Reserve policymakers on rate policy outlooks. After starting lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.95 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,409.22 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Protests across China against the government's aggressive COVID-19 lockdowns have sparked worries over the world's second-largest e

South Korea will push to change regulations in a way that would allow investors to know how much they would receive in dividends before buying stocks in a bid to attract more foreign investment in the local equity market, a senior official of the country's top financial regulator said Monday. Under the current rules, listed companies determine who will receive dividends in late December first before setting the amount in March and then pay out dividends to investors in April the following y

South Korean stocks started off lower Monday, as the continued COVID-19 lockdowns and unrest at an iPhone factory in China weighed on big tech stocks. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 30.16 points, or 1.24 percent, to 2,407.70 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US tech-rich Nasdaq ended lower Friday, with Apple Inc. dipping 2 percent, after media reports it would see a cut in iPhone shipments due to a workers' protest at a main factory in China run by Foxconn. Beiji

Financial authorities to review delisting rules as legal fights loom among stakeholders

Seoul stocks closed slightly down Friday as traders took a wait-and-see stance amid persistent uncertainties over monetary tightening and the global economic outlook. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 3.47 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,437.86. Trading volume was light at 430.8 million shares worth 5.98 trillion won ($4.51 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers 445 to 398. Foreign and institutional investors bough