Kospi slides below 5,000 on US tech losses

South Korean stocks slumped more than 5 percent Friday morning as US technology shares extended overnight losses on concerns over artificial intelligence profitability, with the Korean won weakening sharply against the US dollar. After opening 2.9 percent lower at 5,013.13, the index slid quickly, breaking below the 5,000 threshold within minutes. The benchmark briefly sank to 4,899.3 within the first half hour of trading, down more than 5 percent. The sharp drop triggered a sell-side sidecar ju

Feb. 6, 2026

Seoul stocks open sharply lower as US tech shares extend losses on AI woes

South Korean stocks opened lower Friday following overnight losses on Wall Street amid concerns that major firms' investments in the artificial intelligence sector could lead to financial burdens. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index sank 246.42 points, or 4.77 percent, to 4,917.15 in the first 15 minutes of trading, surrendering the 5,000 threshold. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dipped 1.59 percent and the S&P 500 lost 1.3 percent as investors expressed concerns over exc

Feb. 6, 2026

KRX chief says Kospi could break 6,000

Korea Exchange CEO Jeong Eun-bo said Thursday the Kospi had room to rise beyond 6,000 points, adding that further gains would signal a “Korea premium.” With the Kospi’s historic rally lifting the index to nearly double its level from a year earlier, Jeong said he expects the benchmark to climb past 6,000 “without major hiccups.” “If the Kospi rises above the 6,000 or 6,200 mark, the index’s price-to-book ratio would climb to around 2.23 based on Morgan Stanley Capital International standards, br

Feb. 5, 2026

JB Financial posts record profit, beats guidance

JB Financial Group said Wednesday it posted a record net profit of 710.4 billion won ($520 million) in 2025, beating its own annual guidance and marking the highest earnings in the group’s history. The figure represents a 4.9 percent increase from a year earlier, reflecting resilient profitability despite weak domestic growth, tighter household debt regulations and heightened global trade uncertainty. Key profitability indicators remained solid. Return on equity stood at 12.4 percent, marking th

Feb. 5, 2026

Kospi dips nearly 4% on AI woes; won sharply down

South Korean stocks tumbled almost 4 percent Thursday, as big-cap shares sharply lost ground tracking tech giants' tumble on Wall Street caused by continued woes over their high valuation of artificial intelligence companies. The local currency sharply dropped against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 207.53 points, or 3.86 percent, to close at 5,163.57. The KOSPI fell back below the landmark 5,300-point mark just a day after reaching the milestone. Trade volume wa

Feb. 5, 2026

Toss Securities posts record W70.2tr in January trading

Toss Securities said Thursday that its domestic stock trading volume surged to a record 70.2 trillion won ($48 billion) in January, driven by a sharp rise in investor participation after the firm eliminated trading commissions. Trading volume jumped 136 percent from December to 29.7 trillion won, far outpacing the broader market’s growth rate of 92 percent over the same period, the brokerage said. The surge came amid a broader market rally. Across all platforms, domestic stock trading by individ

Feb. 5, 2026

Seoul stocks open sharply lower on US tech drop

South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Thursday, reflecting tech giants' tumble on Wall Street caused by continued woes over their high valuation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 72.71 points, or 1.35 percent, to 5,298.39 in the first 15 minutes of trading, dropping from an all-time high of over 5,300 points reached the previous day. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dipped 1.51 percent and the S&P 500 lost 0.51 percent as US investors paced up their selling of bl

Feb. 5, 2026

Kospi tops 5,300 on AI optimism, market reform hopes

South Korean stocks set a record high again Wednesday, topping the 5,300-point landmark for the first time, as investors continued to snatch up artificial intelligence-related shares. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed up 83.02 points, or 1.57 percent, to 5,371.1. After choppy trading, the index gathered ground on strong buying by institutional investors, who purchased a net 1.8 trillion won ($1.2 billion). Foreigners and retail inve

Feb. 4, 2026

Seoul stocks open higher despite AI woes on Wall Street

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Wednesday, bucking an overnight fall on Wall Street caused by woes over recent developments in artificial intelligence. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 12.29 points, or 0.23 percent, to 5,300.37 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks closed lower after fresh concerns about the impact of AI on software businesses swept the market. The S&P500 fell 0.84 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq dipped 1.43 percent. AI start

Feb. 4, 2026

Seoul stocks soar nearly 7% to fresh high on bargain hunting

South Korean stocks shot up by the most in six years Tuesday, rebounding from the previous session's deep trough, as investors brushed off concerns over the newly nominated Federal Reserve chair and went bargain hunting. The Korean won also rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 338.41 points, or 6.84 percent, to close at a new high of 5,288.08, a sharp upturn from the previous day's plummet. It marked the steepest daily increase since March 24, 2020,

Feb. 3, 2026

Kospi takes roller-coaster ride as volatility grips Seoul stocks

South Korean stocks rebounded sharply Tuesday as investors looked past heightened volatility. The Kospi jumped more than 6 percent to close at a record high, just a day after an equally sharp slump dragged the benchmark back below the 5,000 mark. The Kospi finished at 5,288.08, up nearly 7 percent and marking its highest close on record. The index opened 3.3 percent higher at 5,114.81 and extended gains through the session, ending at the day’s high, just 33.6 points, or about 0.6 percent, short

Feb. 3, 2026

Seoul stocks open sharply higher on bargain hunting

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Tuesday, recovering from the previous session's trough, as investors hunted for bargain large cap shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 172.05 points, or 3.48 percent, to 5,121.72 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Wall Street, major stock indexes closed higher as upbeat manufacturing data helped investors shrug off lingering trade tensions and renewed concerns over the Federal Reserve's policy direction. Data from the Institut

Feb. 3, 2026

Seoul stocks nosedive over 5% on Fed chair nomination, drop in gold prices

South Korean stocks nosedived by more than 5 percent Monday, triggered by a risk-averse sentiment following the nomination of the new Federal Reserve chair, and a sharp decline in silver and gold prices. The Korean won plunged against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index tumbled 274.69 points, or 5.26 percent, to close at 4,949.67, snapping a four-session winning streak. The country's main bourse operator, the Korea Exchange, issued a sell-side circuit breaker for 5 min

Feb. 2, 2026

Kosdaq still undervalued despite rally, Mirae Asset says

Mirae Asset Global Investments said Monday it projects further gains in the country’s secondary bourse Kosdaq, following a sharp rally this year. Amid a buoyant domestic stock market, the tech-heavy index surged past 1,000 points on Jan. 26 for the first time in four years and has continued to post gains, briefly touching a 52-week high of 1,180.87 on Friday. Despite the sharp rise, Mirae Asset said the Kosdaq remains undervalued when viewed over a longer time horizon. “The possibility of the Ko

Feb. 2, 2026

Seoul stocks slide over 5% as Warsh Fed pick rattles global markets

Seoul stocks tumbled more than 5 percent on Monday as global markets reeled from US President Donald Trump’s announcement of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair, dragging the benchmark Kospi back below the 5,000 mark. The Kospi closed at 4,949.67, down 5.26 percent from the previous close, after sliding as low as 4,933.58 earlier in the session. The retreat pushed the index below 5,000 just one trading day after it surged past 5,300 for the first time Friday. Amid the selloff, the exch

Feb. 2, 2026