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292 stories mentioning KOSDAQUpdated 23h ago

Rose alongside the Kospi as the US-Iran deal and strong semiconductor-driven export price data lifted South Korean investor sentiment.

Asia

Securities Firms in Major Asia-Pacific Markets Display Strength Despite Volatility, Fitch Says

Rated securities firms in major Asia-Pacific markets show strength despite lingering equity market volatility, Fitch Ratings said in a recent release.Securities companies in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China display sufficient capital buffers, solid risk control frameworks, and adherence to strict regulatory oversight, the rating agency said.Net adjusted leverage has risen in the sector since 2025, reaching about 8x to 9x in Korea and Taiwan and 12x to 13x in Japan, due to asset expansion and stronger capital market activity, according to Fitch.Direct credit risk from margin financing and similar securities-backed lending will remain limited due to tight margin maintenance requirements and active collateral monitoring, the rating agency said.Investment books continue to account for the largest asset share for firms, making up 60% of assets in Korea, 40% to 50% in China, and 30% to 40% in Japan and Taiwan, Fitch said.

^KOSDAQKOSPINikkei 225Shanghai Composite^SZSETaiwan Weighted
Asia

Semiconductors Outperform, Widen Gap With Other Korean Sectors, S&P Says

Profitability improvements among rated Korean corporates are concentrated within two chipmakers, overshadowing gains in other sectors, S&P Global Ratings said in a recent release.Notable macroeconomic dynamics will further increase the gap in operating performance among corporates, with the semiconductor industry dominating overall profit expansion, S&P said.Semiconductors and defense should further outdo other sectors over the next one to two years amid strong product demand growth, the rating agency said.Meanwhile, utilities, petrochemicals, and electric vehicle batteries are exposed to oil price movements, inflationary pressure, weakness in the won, and US policy shifts, S&P said.S&P's rating actions on Korean corporates were on a downward bias in the first half of the year, with conditions diverging for sectors and continuing to be slightly negative, credit analyst Jeremy Kim said.

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Asia

South Korean Shares Plunge on AI, Battery Losses; Samsung Loses 5%, SK Hynix 8%

South Korean shares closed lower on Friday after investors booked profits on AI and battery stocks following the previous day's strong gains. Market heavyweights Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), SK Hynix (KRX:000660), and LG Energy Solution (KRX:373220) shed over 5%, 8% and 6%, respectively, at the end of the trading day.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 5.8%, or 519.09 points, to close at 8,411.21. The Kosdaq also declined by 4.1%, or 36.44 points, to end at 851.37.In economic data, the average interest rate on new deposits in South Korea added one basis point to hit 2.93% in May from the previous month, while the average interest rate on outstanding amounts of deposits also added one basis point to 2.03% during the same period.The average interest rate on new loans in the country shed one basis point to hit 4.19% in May from the previous month, while the average interest rate on outstanding amounts of loans added one basis point to 4.31% during the same period, the Bank of Korea said Friday.On the corporate front, SK Telecom (KRX:017670) plans to invest 738.38 billion won in chipmaker SK Hynix's US-incorporated NAND unit SK Hynix NAND Product Solutions Corporation (SKHNPS) via a capital contribution commitment agreement to acquire 1,198 newly issued shares.The investment will give SK Telecom a 0.9% stake in SKHNPS, with the acquisition scheduled to close on June 25, 2030, according to a Friday filing with the Korea Exchange.Shares of SK Telecom fell nearly 1% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:000660KRX:005930KRX:017670KRX:373220
Asia

Korean Authorities Prefer Bank Issuers for Stablecoin Adoption, S&P Says

Korea will likely choose a prudent framework for stablecoin issuance in which banks will be the major issuers, instead of allowing nonbanks in the mix, S&P Global Ratings said Thursday.Authorities could resort to banks as the key issuers at least in the initial stages of stablecoin adoption, backed by their solid risk management framework within regulatory supervision, S&P credit analyst Daehyun Kim said.The regulators' preference is in contrast with some legislators' favored model that allows nonbank stablecoin issuers, which is more in line with frameworks in the US or the European Union, the rating agency said.Bank issuers will hone in on institutional use cases such as cross-border wholesale settlement, raising linkages with the stablecoin market through both issuance and reserve assets, S&P said.Bank deposits could possibly serve as a major component of stablecoin reserve assets, although market stress could drive deposit outflows for some banks and migration toward those with more solid deposit franchises, according to S&P.

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Asia

South Korean Stocks Gain Sharply on AI-Led Market Optimism

South Korean shares closed sharply higher on Thursday, supported by gains in U.S. stock futures after US-based computer memory chip maker Micron Technology's upbeat fiscal fourth-quarter sales outlook boosted investor confidence in the AI-led market rally.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 5.4%, or 459.28 points, to close at 8,930.3. The Kosdaq declined by 2.4%, or 21.5 points, to end at 887.81.Micron Technology expects revenue to be around $50 billion in fiscal Q4, with diluted earnings per share of $30.73. Gross margin is expected to be around 86%.In economic news, the composite business sentiment index in all industries in South Korea decreased 1.2 points to 97.7 in June from 98.9 in May, while the outlook for the next month fell by 2.4 points to 95.2, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Thursday.The seasonally adjusted composite business sentiment index for the manufacturing sector added 0.4 points to 101.2, while the outlook for the following month shed 2.1 points to 98.2, the central bank said.For the non-manufacturing sector, the seasonally adjusted composite business sentiment index decreased 2.1 points to 95.4, while the outlook for the following month shed 2.7 points to 93.2.Meanwhile, the economic sentiment index, a composite of the business survey and consumer survey indices, went down 0.7 points to 96.8.In corporate news, SK Bioscience (KRX:302440) secured a supply contract of influenza vaccines from 2026 to 2027 from the Public Procurement Service of the Republic of Korea, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The contract, valued at 23.9 billion won, is valid till June 30, 2027.Shares of SK Bioscience jumped nearly 2% at market close.In other news, Fitch Ratings assigned Korea Investment (KRX:071050) subsidiary Korea Investment & Securities a long-term credit rating of BBB with a stable outlook, according to a commentary released Wednesday.The stable outlook reflects the rating agency's expectation that the brokerage, wealth management, proprietary trading, and investment banking services provider will maintain a balance sheet and financial profile in accordance with its current rating over the next one to two years.Fitch Ratings will continue to monitor Korea Investment & Securities' evolving business model and risk profile, the release said.Shares of Korea Investment Holdings rose nearly 5% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:071050KRX:302440
International

South Korea's Business Sentiment Declines in June

The composite business sentiment index for all industries in South Korea decreased 1.2 points to 97.7 in June from 98.9 in May, while the outlook for the next month fell by 2.4 points to 95.2, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Thursday.The seasonally adjusted composite business sentiment index for the manufacturing sector added 0.4 points to 101.2, while the outlook for the following month shed 2.1 points to 98.2, the central bank said.For the non-manufacturing sector, the seasonally adjusted composite business sentiment index decreased 2.1 points to 95.4, while the outlook for the following month shed 2.7 points to 93.2.Meanwhile, the economic sentiment index, a composite of the business survey and consumer survey indices, went down 0.7 points to 96.8.

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Asia

MSCI Retains South Korea Under Emerging Market Status

U.S.-based Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) maintained South Korea's emerging market status in its latest review released Tuesday, saying the limited convertibility of the Korean won offshore was a key barrier to the economy's reclassification to developed market status.The MSCI also cited the country's operational hurdles around the adoption of omnibus accounts and in-kind transfers and ongoing market-access restrictions as reasons for the decision, according to the release.

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Treasury

South Korea Expands Treasury Share Disclosure Rules for Listed Firms

The South Korean government approved a revision to a bill that requires all listed companies in the country to disclose details on their treasury stocks, the Financial Services Commission said Tuesday.The revised Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA) requires all firms to prepare treasury share retention and disposal plans and secure shareholder approval, expanding disclosure requirements to cover all listed companies that hold treasury shares.Second, the amended rules remove provisions that allow treasury shares-backed exchangeable bonds, bringing capital market regulations in accordance with the revised bill.In addition, under the revised bill, trust businesses will not be allowed to dispose of treasury shares during the trust agreement period and are required to immediately return to beneficiaries upon its termination or cancellation.The amendment will come into effect from June 30.

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Asia

AI-Driven Boom to Benefit Tech-Heavy Asia-Pacific Economies, S&P Says

Asia-Pacific economies with significant tech manufacturing will benefit from an AI-linked tech export boom, S&P Global Ratings said Wednesday.The benefits from the AI tech rally will counter the adverse effects from the energy shock in these economies, S&P Asia-Pacific chief economist Louis Kuijs said.S&P sees possible upward GDP estimate revisions for markets with solid tech shipments, mainly South Korea and Taiwan, as well as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.Meanwhile, the impact of the energy shock has dampened growth forecasts for India, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines, S&P said.The rating agency's forecast for China remains stable as strong export dynamics offset weaker domestic demand.S&P maintained its baseline GDP growth forecasts in the region excluding China at 4.5% for 2026 and 4.4% for 2027.

^BSEFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI^KOSDAQKOSPINikkei 225Nifty 50^NZ50^PSEI^SETShanghai Composite^STI^SZSETaiwan Weighted
Asia

Korean Insurers Tighten Risk Controls Amid Growing Caution on Alternative Investments, S&P Says

Korean insurers are maintaining stricter risk management controls amid growing wariness of overseas alternative investments, including private credit funds and real estate funds, S&P Global Ratings said Wednesday.The assets seem to post reduced risk-adjusted returns that do not meet insurers' expectations, S&P said.Insurers are now honing in on highly rated bonds and fixed-income securities as domestic bond yields increase, the rating agency said.The rating agency views controlled exposure to riskier overseas private credit and real estate funds for Korean insurers.Rated insurers will endure stress linked to these assets at their present rating, but an ensuing shock will hit profitability, according to S&P.

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Asia

South Korean Shares Rebound on Chip Gains; Samsung Adds 10%, SK Hynix 1%

South Korean shares rebounded on Wednesday, owing to strong gains made by heavyweight semiconductor stocks, after following a technology stocks-led sell-off on record on Tuesday. Key market movers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added nearly 10% and 1%, respectively, at market close.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 3.3%, or 267.18 points, to close at 8,471.02. The Kosdaq also increased by 2%, or 17.79 points, to end at 909.31.In economic news, the number of foreign tourists that arrived in South Korea has exceeded 10 million as of the third week of June, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a Wednesday release.The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea jumped 19.4% to 1.95 million in May from 1.63 million a year earlier. Total foreign arrivals in the country in the first five months of 2026 rose 21% to 8.72 million from 7.21 million in the same period last year, the ministry said.In the corporate front, the South Korean government is in discussions with chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix over the next phase of large-scale semiconductor investments, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing presidential policy adviser Kim Yong-beom at a discussion panel.Kim said that AI-driven demand growth may require the two chipmakers to boost planned chip facility construction by more than 10 years to 2034-2035, while the government looks for space to build a second semiconductor cluster, the report said.In other news, CMES Robotics (KOSDAQ:475400) secured a supply contract for an electrode coater insulation thickness measuring instrument from LG Energy Solution Arizona, the company said in a Wednesday filing with the Korean Exchange.The contract, valued at 1.40 billion won, is expected to be valid till Aug. 31, 2028.Shares of CMES Robotics rose nearly 7% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:000660KRX:005930
International

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in South Korea in 2026 Exceed 10 Million

The number of foreign tourists that arrived in South Korea has exceeded 10 million as of the third week of June, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a Wednesday release.Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said that this milestone was achieved about a month earlier than last year, when the 10 million mark was surpassed in mid-July.The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea jumped 19.4% to 1.95 million in May from 1.63 million a year earlier. Total foreign arrivals in the country in the first five months of 2026 rose 21% to 8.72 million from 7.21 million in the same period last year, the tourist ministry said.

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Asia

South Korea's Kospi Crashes 10% as Investors Offload Tech Stocks; Samsung, SK Hynix Down 12%

A technology stocks-led sell-off dragged South Korean stocks sharply lower on Tuesday on strong profit-taking and following overnight losses on Wall Street. Major market-moving technology stocks Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) plunged over 12% at market close.The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary stock market around 11.40 am after the KOSPI200 Futures fell 76.06 points, or 5.12%, to trade at 1,407.54 amid the massive sell-off. A buy-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index moves 5% or more for at least one minute.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 10%, or 910.71 points, to close at 8,203.84. The Kosdaq also decreased by 7.9%, or 76.88 points, to end at 891.52.In economic news, South Korea's composite consumer sentiment index rose to 106.6 in June from 106.1 in May, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. A reading above 100 indicates an improved outlook, while a reading below 100 suggests pessimism.Sentiment toward current living standards rose one point to 94, while sentiment on the future outlook was unchanged at 97. The outlook for future household income and the sentiment for future household spending were steady at 100 and110, respectively.In corporate news, a worker at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KRX:009540) subsidiary HD Hyundai Samho died on Monday after being struck by a mooring rope during vessel berthing operations at Dolphin Pier 1 in Yeongam.The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating the matter, according to a Tuesday filing with the Korea Exchange.Shares of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering fell nearly 8% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:000660KRX:005930KRX:009540
International

South Korea's Composite Consumer Sentiment Index Inches Up in June

South Korea's Composite Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose to 106.6 in June from 106.1 in May, according to the Bank of Korea's June Consumer Trends Survey released on Tuesday.Consumer sentiment regarding current living standards came in at 94 in June, one point higher than the preceding month, and the sentiment around the future outlook was unchanged at 97, the data showedThe survey was conducted from June 9 to 16.Consumer sentiment regarding the current domestic economic conditions in June was also three points higher than in May at 86. Meanwhile, the sentiment around the future domestic economic conditions slipped by one point from May to 92 in June.Sentiment around future household income and future household spending were both unchanged, at 100 and 110, respectively.As per the data, the expected inflation rate for the upcoming year was 2.8%, unchanged from a month earlier.

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Asia

South Korean Shares Close at New High on Chip Stock Gains; Kospi Crosses 9,100 Points

South Korean shares closed at a new high on Monday, with the primary index Kospi closing over 9,100 points, owing to strong gains by chipmakers. Shares of SK Hynix (KRX:000660), Hana Micron (KOSDAQ:067310), and Hanmi Semiconductor (KRX:042700) gained nearly 6%, 16%, and over 2%, respectively, at market close.The gains came as the U.S. and Iran made progress at their high-level negotiations in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 0.7%, or 62.13 points, to close at 9,114.55. The Kosdaq also increased by 0.2%, or 1.81 points, to end at 968.4.In economic news, South Korea's exports jumped 60.4% to $62 billion in the first 20 days of June from $38.7 billion a year earlier, Monday data from the Korea Customs Service showed.Imports increased 23.2% to $44.5 billion from $36.1 billion a year earlier, resulting in a $17.5 billion trade surplus.On the corporate front, PanGen Biotech (KOSDAQ:222110) secured a research service contract to advance a production system and evaluate a non-clinical sample production system for an antibody treatment targeting Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS).The contract, valued at 2.8 billion won, is valid till Dec. 31, 2028, according to a Monday filing by the biotechnology company with the Korea Exchange.Shares of Pangen Biotech rose nearly 2% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKOSDAQ:067310KOSDAQ:222110KRX:000660KRX:042700
Asia

Market Chatter: Two South Korea-Operated Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz After Ceasefire

Two vessels operated by South Korean firms have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Iran signed a ceasefire deal last week, Reuters reported Monday, citing the East Asian nation's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.The ships are not carrying South Korean crew and are not bound for the country, but have yet to fully clear the high-risk zone, the ministry said, according to the report.As of Monday, 22 South Korean-operated vessels remained in the critical waterway, Reuters reported.(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.)

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International

South Korea's Current Account Surplus Widens to $123.05 Billion in 2025

South Korea's current account posted a surplus of $123.05 billion in 2025, according to preliminary balance of payments data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday.The reading compared with the $99.97 billion surplus recorded in the previous year.The goods account logged a surplus of $138.07 billion, while the services account registered a deficit of $34.52 billion.The primary income account posted a surplus of $27.92 billion.

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International

South Korea's Producer Inflation Accelerates to 8.5% in May

Producer prices in South Korea increased 8.5% year over year in May, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea released on Friday.The reading compared with the 7.2% expansion recorded in the previous month. It beat the Trading Economics' forecast of a 7.5% growth.The performance during the month was driven primarily by manufacturing producer prices, which rose 13.3% year over year, sharper than the 11.8% jump the previous month.

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Asia

South Korean Shares Snap Six-Day Winning Streak on Profit-Booking

South Korean shares snapped a six-day winning streak on Friday to close lower after investors took the opportunity of the recent rally to book profits.Starting the day on a strong chip rally, shares lost momentum in the afternoon after news broke of the cancellation of the talks scheduled for Friday between the US ⁠and ​Iran in Switzerland to implement a peace agreement. The talks were expected to take place in the Swiss village of Obbürgen, two days after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) established a 60-day negotiation window for a long-term agreement on Iran's nuclear program and the resumption of oil shipments via the Strait of Hormuz.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell by 0.13%, or 11.42 points, to close at 9,052.42. The Kosdaq also decreased by 3.4%, or 34.34 points, to end at 966.59.In economic news, producer prices in South Korea increased 8.5% in May from a year earlier, accelerating from 7.2% in April and marking the strongest annual increase since July 2022, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Friday.The year-on-year gains were driven by higher costs across all categories. On a month-on-month basis, producer prices increased 0.8% in May, according to the data.On the corporate front, Celltrion (KRX:068270) said approval for Part 1 of its European Phase 3 clinical trial application for Remsima (CT-P13 SC) in pediatric patients with Crohn's Disease has lapsed, according to a Friday filing with the Korea Exchange.Shares of the company fell nearly 3% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:068270
Asia

South Korea's Kospi Crosses 9,000 Points to Hit Record High; Samsung Gains 5%, SK Hynix 7%

South Korean shares closed at a record high on Thursday, with the country's primary index surpassing the 9,000-point level for the first time ever.Investor sentiment was particularly buoyed by the US-Iran deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep its key rate steady in the range of 3.50%-3.75% at its latest rate-setting meeting also boosted sentiment.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, increased by 2.3%, or 199.6 points, to close at 9,063.84. The Kosdaq, however, decreased by 3%, or 31.03 points, to end at 1,000.93.Thursday's gain marked the sixth straight day of gains, owing to optimism over the AI sector. Shares of market movers and chip stocks Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) rose nearly 5% and 7%, respectively.U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the Iran document on Wednesday night, the White House told the BBC.Key aspects of the deal comprise Iran's commitment not to develop a nuclear weapon, the restoration of shipping via the Strait of Hormuz with no transit fees for at least 60 days, the removal of U.S. sanctions, and an end to hostilities, including in Lebanon.In corporate news, Samsung Biologics (KRX:207940) secured a biologics contract manufacturing organization (CMO) contract from an undisclosed US-based pharmaceutical company. The contract, valued at 835.7 billion won, is valid until Dec. 31, 2031.Shares of Samsung Biologics added over 4% at market close.

^KOSDAQKOSPIKRX:000660KRX:005930KRX:207940

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