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Rose alongside the Kospi as the US-Iran deal and strong semiconductor-driven export price data lifted South Korean investor sentiment.
South Korea's unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.9% in May versus the previous month, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics released on Thursday.However, the reading was up from 2.8% a year earlier.The labor force participation rate rose to 65.2% in May from 64.9% in April, while the total number of employed persons edged up to 29.12 million from 28.96 million a month ago.
South Korean shares closed sharply lower on Wednesday on renewed US-Iran tensions after the US military's Central Command said it carried out self-defense strikes against Iran after Iranian forces allegedly shot down a U.S. attack helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched attacks on U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. The IRGC attacked the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait with drones, while also setting off a long-range missile strike against an air base in Jordan's Azraq.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 366.11 points, or 4.5%, to end at 7,730.82. The Kosdaq also decreased by 16.18 points, or 1.7%, to close at 951.63.South Korea plans to crack down on speculative foreign-exchange trading, with regulators set to carry out on-site inspections and investigations into suspected market-disruptive activities, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing Moon Jisung, deputy finance minister for international affairs.The move comes as the country intensifies its efforts to defend its currency after the won slid to its weakest level since 2009 in the week ended June 6.The Korean won gained 1.2% to 1,509.50 per dollar on Tuesday, extending its 2% gain on Monday, after the government reaffirmed its commitment to support the currency and investigate speculative trading.In corporate news, Prestige Biologics (KOSDAQ:334970) secured a contract to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients from an undisclosed client, according to a Wednesday filing with the Korea Exchange.The contract, valued at 2.67 billion won, is valid till March 31, 2027.Shares of Prestige Biologics added nearly 2% at market close.
South Korea plans to crack down on speculative foreign-exchange trading, with regulators set to carry out on-site inspections and investigations into suspected market-disruptive activities, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing Moon Jisung, deputy finance minister for international affairs.The move comes as the country intensifies its efforts to defend its currency after the won slid to its weakest level since 2009 in the week ended June 6, the report said.The Korean won gained 1.2% to 1,509.50 per dollar on Tuesday, extending its 2% gain on Monday, after the government reaffirmed its commitment to support the currency and investigate speculative trading. Despite the revival, the won remains one of Asia's weakest-performing currencies in 2026, down 5.3%, outperforming only the Indonesian rupiah and Indian rupee, it said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
South Korean shares opened sharply lower on Wednesday on renewed US-Iran tensions.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 2.4%, or 197.16 points, to open at 7,899.77. The Kosdaq also declined 0.95%, or 9.22 points, to open at 958.58.Sentiment turned cautious after the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out self-defense strikes against Iran after Iranian forces allegedly shot down a U.S. attack helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.Major heavyweight stocks led the losses in early trading, with Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) shares declining over 4% and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) shares falling nearly 4%.
South Korean stocks closed sharply higher on Tuesday, marking a rebound from the previous session's 8.3% plunge, thanks to strong gains made by technology stocks. Market heavyweights Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added nearly 9% and 16%, respectively, at market close.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi rose 612.52 points, or 8.2%, to end at 8,096.93. The Kosdaq also increased by 56.42 points, or 6.2%, to close at 967.81.The volatility prompted the Korea Exchange to deploy "sidecar" mechanisms. It activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock markets on Tuesday morning.A buy-side sidecar was activated for the KOSPI market at 9:12 a.m. after KOSPI200 Futures rose 5.2%. A similar measure was triggered for the KOSDAQ at 9:28 a.m. following a 6.62% jump in KOSDAQ150 Futures.A buy-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index or the KOSDAQ150 futures rise 5% or more for at least one minute.In corporate news, chipmaker SK Hynix placed an order with Hanmi Semiconductor (KRX:042700) for TC Bonder 4.5 Griffin equipment for HBM4 manufacturing, according to a Monday filing with the Korea Exchange.The contract, worth 44.2 billion won, is valid until Sept. 2.Shares of Hanmi Semiconductor added over 9% at market close.In other news, Xi S&D (KRX:317400) secured a contract worth 141.1 billion won to build an apartment complex and neighborhood commercial facilities in Busan, according to a Tuesday filing with the Korea Exchange.The project comprises the construction of six basement levels and 45 above-ground floors on a site located at Busan's 1394-335 Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu, the filing said.The construction is expected to take 48 months.Shares of Xi S&D, which engages in construction, housing development, and home solution businesses, rose over 3% at market close.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced plans to use excess tax revenues from the semiconductor sector to fund new growth industries, Bloomberg News reported Monday, citing a press conference marking Lee's first anniversary as president.The goal is to reduce the country's long-term reliance on microchips and build global competitiveness across other technology sectors, the report said.Highlighting this economic shift, President Lee nominated Han Seong-sook, the current Minister of SMEs and Startups and former CEO of internet company Naver (KRX:035420), as the country's next Prime Minister, according to the report.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock market on Tuesday morning after investors rushed to purchase stocks amid a rebound in technology stocks and U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on Truth Social of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.The Korea Exchange announced the order at 9:12 am after the KOSPI200 Futures added 60.80 points, or 5.2%, to trade at 1,239.05.The five-minute buy-side sidecar on Kosdaq was activated at 9:28 am after the KOSDAQ150 Futures also rose by 104.10 points, or 6.62%, to trade at 1,676.30.A buy-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index or the KOSDAQ150 futures rise 5% or more for at least one minute.
South Korea's economy expanded 3.8% in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to data released Tuesday by the Bank of Korea.The latest print accelerated from 1.6% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, beating the consensus forecast of 3.6% tracked by Investing.com.On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the Bank of Korea revised its advance estimate upward by 0.1 percentage point to 1.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% contraction in the previous quarter. The quarterly figure also topped the consensus forecast of 1.7%.The latest data confirmed a semiconductor-led surge that the Bank of Korea reported in its advance estimate in April. Major players in the semiconductor field include Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660).Exports of goods and services rose 11.8% year over year in the first quarter, significantly faster than the 4.6% jump in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest data.Imports of goods and services likewise jumped 8.5% from a year earlier in Q1, also accelerating from the 3.9% increase in Q4 2025.Elsewhere, manufacturing output climbed 7.2% year over year, versus the 2.4% increase in Q4 2025. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector rose 3.5% in Q1 from a year earlier, reversing the 0.5% dip in Q4 2025.Output from the electricity, gas and water supply sector contracted for the fourth straight quarter in Q1, dropping 5% after the 4.4% slide in Q4 2025.On the expenditure side, private consumption rose 2.7% year over year in Q1 after growing 2.4% in Q4 2025, while government spending jumped 3.1%, slowing from the 3.6% expansion previously.ING Think Senior Economist for South Korea, Min Joo Kang, wrote in an April 23 note that growth is expected to slow in the second quarter."We expect strong chip momentum to continue, but also a slowdown in 2Q26 growth as energy disruptions affect activity across petrochemicals and other manufacturing sectors.""The Korean government implemented a temporary export ban on Naphtha, and Korean companies increased oil and gas imports from outside the Middle East. Despite these measures, manufacturing activity still cannot be sustained at full capacity," Min added.Meanwhile, Stephen Lee, an economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul, expects stronger export momentum in the third quarter and export growth of around 50% for the full year."It is truly an unprecedented pace, raising market expectations again and again and exceeding them again and again," Lee was quoted by Reuters as saying last week.The Bank of Korea recently raised its economic growth forecast for the country to 2.6% this year from its previous 2% growth outlook, citing the semiconductor boom.BOK Governor Shin Hyun-song expects strong exports to contribute 0.7 percentage points to the country's GDP growth in 2026, Yonhap reported May 28, citing a press conference.
South Korean stocks opened higher on Tuesday amid a rebound in technology stocks and US President Donald Trump's announcement on Truth Social of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 2.85%, or 213.35 points, to open at 7,697.76. The Kosdaq also added 2.88%, or 26.3 points, to open at 937.69.Major heavyweight stocks led the gains in early trading, with Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) adding over 4%, SK Hynix (KRX:000660) adding more than 6%, and Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380) and Kia (KRX:000270) adding more than 3% and 7%, respectively.
South Korea's GDP grew 3.8% year over year in the first quarter, according to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday.The pace of growth was faster than the 1.6% expansion recorded in the previous quarter, exceeding the consensus forecast for a 3.6% growth, according to Investing.com.On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the economy expanded 1.8%, rebounding from the 0.1% contraction in the previous quarter. It also topped the consensus forecast of 1.7%.
South Korean shares tanked on Monday as investors offloaded stocks amid renewed concerns over the profitability of AI-led investments and fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve could adopt a more hawkish monetary policy stance due to a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report for May.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 676.18 points, or 8.3%, to end at 7,484.41. The Kosdaq also decreased by 91.05 points, or 9.1%, to close at 911.39.The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute sell-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock markets on Monday morning as concerns rose over the semiconductor sector, and investor sentiment was dragged down by fears of further interest rate hikes after the U.S.'s better-than-expected jobs data.A sell-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index or the KOSDAQ150 futures decline 5% or more for at least one minute.In corporate news, SK Group subsidiaries SK Hynix (KRX:000660) and SK Telecom (KRX:017670) unveiled separate partnerships with U.S. chip giant Nvidia to support AI infrastructure expansion and next-generation memory development.Meanwhile, SK Hynix signed a multi-year technology partnership with Nvidia to develop next-generation memory solutions. Shares of SK Hynix fell over 7% at market close.
The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute sell-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock market on Monday morning as concerns rose over the semiconductor sector, and investor sentiment was dragged down by fears of further interest rate hikes after the better-than-expected May U.S. jobs report.The Korea Exchange announced the order at 9:34 am after the KOSPI200 Futures shed 81.30 points, or 6.3%, to trade at 1,216.85.The five-minute sell-side sidecar on Kosdaq was activated after the KOSDAQ150 Futures shed 140.60 points, or 7.95%, to trade at 1,625.90.A sell-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index or the KOSDAQ150 futures decline 5% or more for at least one minute.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Han Seongsook, the Minister of SMEs and Startups and former chief executive of internet company Naver (KRX:035420), as the country's next prime minister, the presidential office said Sunday.If confirmed by parliament, Han would become the country's first female prime minister in two decades, Reuters said in a same-day report.
South Korean stocks opened lower Monday, tracking losses on Wall Street on Friday after a hot U.S. jobs report fueled expectations of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.Major heavyweight stocks led the decline in early trading, with Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) declining over 9% and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) falling over 8%.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 1.4%, or 112.5 points, to open at 8,048.09. The Kosdaq shed 4.4%, or 42.83 points, to open at 959.61.
South Korean shares plunged at market close on Friday to end the week in red, as investors offloaded key chip stocks following overnight weakness in US semiconductor stocks.Market-moving semiconductor manufacturers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) witnessed losses of over 6% and 9% in their stocks at the end of the trading day.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 478.82 points, or 5.5%, to end at 8,160.59. The Kosdaq also decreased by 47.29 points, or 4.5%, to close at 1,002.44.In economic news, South Korea booked a current account surplus of $28.3 billion in April, down from $37.9 billion in March, according to data from the Bank of Korea published Friday.The figure beat analysts' $11.4 billion surplus forecast, according to Trading Economics.In corporate news, TES (KOSDAQ:095610) secured a semiconductor manufacturing equipment contract from chipmaker SK Hynix, the South Korean manufacturer of chips, solar cell, and display equipment.The contract, valued at 21.2 billion won, is valid until Jan. 15, 2027. Its shares closed over 2% higher.
South Korean stocks opened lower on Friday as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach amid uncertainty over the U.S.-Iran peace agreement.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 3.66%, or 316.21 points, to open at 8,323.2. The Kosdaq shed 14.51 points to open at 1,035.22.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this week that "no tangible progress" had been made in the country's negotiations with the U.S. to end the war, according to CBS News.Araghchi said communication with the U.S. was ongoing but warned that any attack by Israel on Lebanon's capital, Beirut, under its campaign against Hezbollah would lead to fresh tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
South Korea booked a current account surplus of $28.3 billion in April, down from $37.9 billion in March, according to data from the Bank of Korea published Friday.The figure beat analysts' $11.4 billion surplus forecast, according to Trading Economics.The goods account surplus declined to $33.9 billion from $35.7 billion the previous month as exports jumped 54.5% to $90.6 billion.Services account logged a larger deficit of $2.42 billion from $1.31 billion in March.
South Korean shares closed nearly 2% lower on Thursday, after overnight losses on Wall Street and fresh Middle East tensions following the U.S. launching new military attacks on Iran's Qeshm Islands.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 162.08 points, or 1.8%, to end at 8,639.41. The Kosdaq increased by 23.7 points, or 2.3%, to close at 1,049.73.In economic news, South Korea's official foreign reserve assets stood at $427.0 billion at the end of May, compared with $427.9 billion in the previous month, according to Bank of Korea data published Thursday.The amount consists of $380.7 billion in securities, $21.4 billion in deposits, $4.4 billion in International Monetary Fund reserve position, $15.8 billion in special drawing rights, and $4.8 billion in gold.In corporate news, medical equipment manufacturer Plasmapp (KOSDAQ:405000) secured a supply contract for U510 and STERI700 sterilizers from Qmed Master Distribution, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The contract, valued at 3.53 billion won, is valid till June 1, 2027.Shares of Plasmapp fell nearly 4% at market close.
South Korea's ruling Democratic Party secured the majority of seats in local elections, early vote counting showed on Thursday, Reuters reported the same day.President Lee Jae Myung's party won Busan and led in 12 of 16 mayoral and provincial contests across the country, the report said.Meanwhile, incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the opposition People Power Party (PPP) held a narrow lead in the capital Seoul, where voting disruptions have been reported over a shortage of ballot papers, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
South Korean shares opened sharply lower on Thursday, owing to overnight losses on Wall Street and fresh Middle East tensions after the U.S. launched new military attacks on Iran's Qeshm Islands.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 2%, or 177.67 points, to open at 8,623.82. The Kosdaq increased 0.7%, or 6.88 points, to open at 1,032.91.The major U.S. stock indices closed lower on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining 1.21%, the S&P 500 falling 0.74%, and the Nasdaq Composite shedding 0.89%.The U.S. military said it tackled multiple Iranian missiles and drone attacks in the Gulf and carried out self-defense strikes on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island. U.S. forces also shot down three Iranian attack drones that were heading toward civilian mariners in regional waters, according to the U.S. Central Command.
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