^KOSDAQ

South Korea's Money Supply Increases in March

South Korea's money supply increased in March, with the broad money, or M2, rising 0.4% to 4,132.1 trillion won from 4,113.6 trillion won a month earlier, the Bank of Korea said Thursday.M2 is a gauge of the money supply that encompasses cash, demand deposits, and other readily convertible financial instruments.The country's narrow money, or M1, increased 0.7% to 1,368.7 trillion won in the month from 1,358.6 trillion won in February.

South Korean Shares Open at New High as Tech, Auto Stocks Track US Rally

South Korean shares opened higher on Thursday, owing to gains made by technology and automotive stocks and an overnight rally on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, added 0.4%, or 29.9 points, to open at 7,873.91. The Kosdaq also increased by 10.09 points to open at 1,187.02.Major market movers, chipmaker Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and automaker Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380) added nearly 4% and 3%, respectively, in Thursday morning trade.The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite added 1.2% on Wednesday, and the S&P 500 added 0.58%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.14%. Losses in telecommunications, utilities, and financials sectors dragged stocks lower.Investors kept a close eye on US-China talks this week, as US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit, marking his second in-person meeting with Xi Jinping since October 2025 and the first visit to China by a US president in nine years.Trump is expected to seek China's support in pressuring Iran to advance peace negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, according to a Guardian report.However, earlier this week, the US imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms accused of supporting Iranian oil shipments and offering satellite imagery allegedly used in Iranian military operations. Beijing has denied these allegations. Trump's visit also follows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's trip to Beijing last week.

South Korean Shares Hit New High on Chip, Auto Gains

South Korean shares closed at a new high on Wednesday, after rebounding from the previous day's losses, owing to gains made by chip and automotive stocks.Shares of major market movers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), SK Kynix (KRX:000660), Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380), and Kia (KRX:000270) added nearly 2%, 8%, 10%, and about 7% at market close.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 200.86 points, or 2.6%, to end at 7,844.01. The Kosdaq declined by 2.36 points, or 0.2%, to close at 1,176.93.In economic news, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in South Korea in April edged up to 2.8% from 2.7% in March, data from Statistics Korea indicated Wednesday.On an annual basis, the unemployment rate remained unchanged.The number of unemployed people fell to 853,000 in April from 854,000 a year earlier.In corporate news, Hanwha Engine (KRX:082740) secured a contract for a ship engine from Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660), according to a Wednesday filing with the Korean Exchange.The contract, valued at 354.2 billion won, is valid until June 26, 2028.Shares of Hanwha Engine rose nearly 2% at market close.

South Korea to Raise Safety Inspections on Overseas Direct Purchases

South Korea plans to increase safety inspections on its overseas direct purchase on concerns about the influx of hazardous products amid an increase in cross-border e-commerce and online sales, the Office for Government Policy Coordination said in a Wednesday release.Safety inspections will be raised to over 2,000 by 2028 from about 1,000 cases in 2025.The government plans to boost inspection by applying data and AI across the entire product safety lifecycle and shifting toward preventive regulation, the release said.The initiative outlines four core strategies and 16 key tasks that are aimed at improving public confidence, it said.

South Korean Shares Open Lower on Wall Street Losses, Faster US Inflation

South Korean shares opened lower on Wednesday, tracking losses on Wall Street, amid a sell-off in chip shares, the fastest U.S. inflation since May 2023, and uncertainties in the Middle East war.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell by 129.5 points to open at 7,513.65. The Kosdaq declined by 2.85 points to open at 1,176.43.Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, said Monday that the country's military was ready to "teach a lesson" to any aggressor, after US President Trump rejected Iran's response to the recent peace proposal and said the ceasefire was "on life support."Trump dismissed Tehran's response as extremely weak, adding that he did not fully read the proposal, called it "garbage," and questioned whether the truce could hold.Amid uncertainties, the Korean won also weakened against the greenback, opening at 1,493.8 won per dollar, down 3.9 won from Tuesday's close.In addition, a 3.8% increase in annual US inflation in April impacted sentiment. The higher-than-expected inflation was a result of a jump in the prices of gasoline and groceries last month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nearly half of the jump was driven by rising energy costs, with housing and food prices also contributing to the uptick.Overnight losses in US stocks also led to an erosion in the appetite for South Korean stocks. The Nasdaq Composite led declines, declining about 0.7%, while the S&P 500 slipped over 0.1%. On the other hand, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, supported by its lower exposure to technology stocks.

South Korea's Jobless Rate Edges Up in April

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in South Korea in April edged up to 2.8% from 2.7% in March, data from Statistics Korea indicated Wednesday.On an annual basis, the unemployment rate remained unchanged.The number of unemployed people fell to 853,000 in April from 854,000 a year earlier.The number of employed people increased by 74,000 to hit 28.96 million last month from 28.9 million in the year-ago period.

South Korea's Unemployment Rate Slightly Eases to 2.9% in April

South Korean Shares Plummet as US-Iran Tensions Halt Winning Streak

South Korean shares snapped a five-session winning streak on Tuesday, with the Kospi and Kosdaq both sliding 2.3% as stalled geopolitical negotiations in the Middle East prompted widespread profit-taking.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi decreased by 179.09 points, or 2.3%, to end at 7,643.15. The Kosdaq also declined by 28.05 points, or 2.3%, to close at 1,179.29.In corporate news, the head of Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) largest labor union, Choi Seung-ho, said a planned strike may be preventable if management improves transparency around compensation, citing growing distrust among employees and concerns over talent leaving for competitors.Cho criticized the company's discretionary bonus adjustment system as "opaque."Talks between the 70,000-member-strong union and management have resumed under the mediation of the Central Labor Relations Commission under South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor.The union has warned of an extended strike if negotiations fail and is pushing to remove caps on bonuses tied to company performance.Shares of the chipmaker fell over 2% at market close.In other news, CJ Seafood (KRX:011150) posted a first-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders of 1.29 billion won, swinging from an attributable net income of 231 million won a year earlier, according to a Tuesday filing with the Korea Exchange.Sales of the processed meat and seafood company were up 4.6% year over year to 55 billion won from 52.5 billion won.Shares of CJ Seafood fell more than 1% at market close.

South Korean Shares Open at New High on Extended Chip Rally Despite No Progress in US-Iran Talks

South Korean shares opened at a new high on Tuesday, owing to an extended rally of chip stocks, primarily led by Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which gained over 1% and nearly 4%, respectively, in morning trade.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 131.17 points to open at 7,953.41. The Kosdaq gained 7.56 points to open at 1,214.90.Investors appeared to pay no heed to the lack of progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks.U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the ceasefire with Iran was "on life support" after he rejected Tehran's latest proposal and deemed it unacceptable.Iran pushed back, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accusing the US of making unreasonable demands, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the U.S. must accept the Iranian proposal, and warned that Tehran was ready to respond to any aggression.

South Korea's Kospi Hits All-Time High; Samsung Rises 6%

South Korea's benchmark index Kospi closed at an all-time high on Monday, with the rally driven by chip giants Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which gained over 6% and nearly 12%, respectively.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 324.24 points, or 4.3%, to end at 7,822.24. The Kosdaq finished little changed in negative territory at 1,207.34.In economic news, South Korea's exports surged 43.7% to $18.4 billion in the first 10 days of May from $12.8 billion a year earlier, Monday data from the Korea Customs Service showed.Imports increased 14.9% to $16.7 billion, resulting in a $1.7 billion trade surplus.In corporate news, shares of Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660) rose 3% after the company secured a 363.2 billion won order for a liquefied natural gas carrier from a Europe-based shipper.In other news, Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KRX:047810) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop advanced air mobility solutions.Shares of Hyundai (KRX:005380) closed 5% higher, while those of Korea Aerospace edged up 2%.

Korea Exchange Halts Kospi Trading for Five Minutes After Buying Surges on Chip Stocks Rally

The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary stock market on Monday morning as investors rushed to purchase securities amid a rally due to strong gains made by key chip stocks.The Korea Exchange announced the order at 9:29 am after the KOSPI200 Futures added 58.82 points, or 5.1%, to trade at 1,210.54.A buy-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index gains 5% or more for at least one minute.

South Korean Shares Open Higher on Chip Rally Despite US-Iran Peace Agreement Fallout, Oil Price Jump

South Korean shares opened higher on Monday, owing to gains made by chipmakers despite the fallout of the US-Iran peace agreement.US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to the former's proposals to end the ongoing war as "totally unacceptable."The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 277.31 points to open at 7,775.31. The Kosdaq gained marginally to open at 1,212.88.Shares of key chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) were trading over 7% and 11% higher in Monday morning trade, tracking recent gains on Wall Street.Iran had forwarded a proposal to the US through Pakistan to end the conflict, calling for an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, an end to the U.S. naval blockade, and assurance of no further attacks, according to Tasnim news agency.However, Trump on Sunday evening accused Iran of "playing games", which raised concerns over a possible fallout to reach a peace agreement between the US and Iran.In addition, oil prices jumped on Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the military conflict with Iran was "not over." U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with June delivery rose 3.08% to $95.42 per barrel, while the international benchmark Brent crude futures with July delivery increased 3.16% to $104.49 per barrel.

South Korean Shares Close Higher for Fourth Straight Session to Hit New High Despite Middle East Tensions

South Korean shares closed higher on Friday, hitting a new high in the fourth session of straight gains, despite escalated tensions in the Middle East.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 7.95 points, or 0.1%, to end at 7,498. The Kosdaq also added 8.54 points, or 0.7%, to close at 1,207.72.The tension between the U.S. and Iran escalated on Friday after U.S. forces targeted Iranian military facilities that launched attacks against warships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.The U.S. military said in a statement that U.S. forces do "not seek escalation."Iran's armed forces said the U.S. military's airstrikes on Thursday night hit civilian areas along the coasts of Qeshm Island, Bandar Khamir and Sirik.In economic news, South Korea's current account surplus sharply rose to $37.33 billion in March from $23.19 billion in February, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea released Friday.Compared with the year-ago period, the figure rose from a surplus of $9.58 billion, the central bank said.The goods account registered a surplus of $35.07 billion. Exports rose by 56.9% on an annual basis to $94.32 billion, while imports increased 17.4% to $59.24 billion.In corporate news, Coway (KRX:021240) posted first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of 182.02 billion won, up 31% from 138.9 billion won a year earlier, according to a Friday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean household appliances manufacturer's sales rose 13% year over year to 1.329 trillion won from 1.174 trillion won.Shares of Coway rose nearly 1% at market close.

South Korean Shares Open Lower on Heightened Iran Tension Concerns

South Korean shares opened lower on Friday, as investors held on to their profits after two consecutive days of gains, after energy supply concerns rose again following escalated tensions in the Middle East.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, declined by 136.11 points, to open at 7,353.94. The Kosdaq gained marginally to open at 1,199.47.The tension between the U.S. and Iran escalated on Friday after U.S. forces targeted Iranian military facilities that launched attacks against warships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.The U.S. military said in a statement that U.S. forces do "not seek escalation."Iran's armed forces said the U.S. military's airstrikes on Thursday night hit civilian areas along the coasts of Qeshm Island, Bandar Khamir and Sirik.These renewed tensions sent Brent crude 2.3% higher to over $102 a barrel, as investors were concerned that the Middle East crisis would extend the continued the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea's Current Account Surplus Surges in March

South Korea's current account surplus sharply rose to $37.33 billion in March from $23.19 billion in February, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea released Friday.Compared with the year-ago period, the figure rose from a surplus of $9.58 billion, the central bank said.The goods account registered a surplus of $35.07 billion. Exports rose by 56.9% on an annual basis to $94.32 billion, while imports increased 17.4% to $59.24 billion.Meanwhile, the services account posted a deficit of $1.29 billion, led by deficits in other business services and manufacturing services accounts.The primary income account recorded a $3.58 billion surplus in the month, owing to higher equity income. The secondary income account incurred a deficit of $300 million, the data showed.

Market Chatter: South Korea Becomes World's Seventh-Largest Stock Market

South Korea became the world's seventh-largest stock market, overtaking Canada, owing to strong demand for AI chips, Bloomberg reported Thursday.The total market value of South Korean listed firms surged 71% to $4.59 trillion in 2026, surpassing Canada's stock market capitalization, which rose about 7% to $4.5 trillion during the period, the report said.Key market bigwigs and chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), which recently surpassed a valuation of $1 trillion, and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), more than doubled in valuation this year as strong demand for AI chips pushed investor appetite for the stocks, it said.Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added rose more than 2% and 3%, respectively, at market close.(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 End at Fresh Highs on US-Iran Peace Hopes; SK Biopharma Rises

South Korean stocks closed at a fresh high on Thursday as investor sentiment was buoyed by optimism regarding a potential US-Iran peace agreement.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 105.49 points, or 1.4%, to end at 7,490.05. The Kosdaq slipped 0.9% to close at 1,199.18.The key index was lifted by gains in market heavyweights Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which rose more than 2% and 3%, respectively.In economic news, South Korea's foreign reserves grew to $427.9 billion in April from $423.7 billion as of March-end, data from the Bank of Korea showed.In corporate news, SK Biopharmaceuticals (KRX:326030) finished 1% higher after posting a first-quarter attributable income of 105.2 billion won, up 351% from 23.3 billion won a year earlier.

South Korean Banks' Credit Profiles Provide Buffer for More Complex Conditions, Fitch Says

South Korean banks have strong credit profiles and generally steady near-term performance that will help them weather growing complexities in operating conditions, Fitch Ratings said in a recent release.The country's banks face a shifting economic environment, regulatory changes, and an active government policy agenda, especially for vulnerable sectors, Fitch said.Regulatory trends include greater requirements on household lending and policy efforts rerouting credit to the corporate sector, Fitch said.These dynamics have catalyzed strategic alignment within the sector, leading to changes in their attitude toward growth, capital, and risk-taking, the rating agency said.Major commercial banks that have varied business models and controlled risk management will be the most resilient, according to Fitch.

South Korean Shares Open at New High as Investors Remain Hopeful About US-Iran Peace Agreement

South Korean shares opened at a new high on Thursday, extending the 6.5% jump on Wednesday, as investors remained hopeful about the possibility of a peace agreement between the US and Iran.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 114.51 points, or 1.6%, to open at 7,499.07. The Kosdaq gained marginally to open at 1,210.83.After opening at a new high, Kospi rose sharply to a new all-time intraday high at 9.03 am, reaching 7,523.84 points.Iran is expected to deliver its response later today to mediators regarding the US proposal to end the Middle East war, CNN reported, citing a regional source.Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Washington had held "very good talks" with Iran over the past 24 hours, indicating optimism over potential progress in negotiations.

South Korea's Official Foreign Reserves Increase in April

South Korea's foreign reserves grew by $4.2 billion to $427.9 billion in April from $423.7 billion as of the end of March, Bank of Korea data showed on Thursday.The country's official foreign reserves consisted of securities amounting to $384.1 billion, deposits of $18.8 billion, special drawing rights of $15.8 billion, gold worth $4.8 billion, and the country's IMF position at $4.5 billion.South Korea's foreign reserve holdings ranked the 12th largest globally as of the end of March, the central bank said.