Seoul shares plunge over 12% on Middle East conflict fears; won tumbles

Seoul shares plunged more than 12 percent Wednesday, closing below the 5,100-point mark, as mounting concerns over the economic fallout from the escalating Middle East conflict rattled investor sentiment. The Korean won also fell sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index tumbled 698.37 points, or 12.06 percent, to close at 5,093.54, extending losses from a 7.24 percent drop in the previous session. The 12.06 percent fall marked the steepest one-day decline si

March 4, 2026

Kospi plunges 12% in record rout as Iran war jolts markets

South Korea’s stock market extended its sharp losses Wednesday, with the benchmark Kospi plunging more than 12 percent and the secondary Kosdaq tumbling 14 percent, marking their steepest one-day declines on record. Both bourses were hit by a 20-minute trading halt as the exchange operator temporarily suspended trading amid heightened volatility. The Kospi closed at 5,093.54 on the day, shedding 12.06 percent from the previous session's close. After kicking off the session at 5,592.29, the index

March 4, 2026

Korean stocks plunge 8%, circuit breakers triggered

South Korean shares plunged more than 8 percent on Wednesday, prompting the stock exchange to temporarily halt trading on the benchmark Kospi and secondary Kosdaq markets, as risk-averse sentiment intensified following US-Israel strikes on Iran. The Korea Exchange activated a circuit breaker to suspend trading on the Kospi for 20 minutes at around 11:19 a.m., after the index fell more than 8 percent for over a minute. The move followed a separate trading suspension on the Kosdaq, which was trigg

March 4, 2026

KOSPI opens sharply lower following over 7% dip amid Middle East tension

Seoul shares opened sharply lower Wednesday following a 7 percent plunge a session earlier amid escalating woes over ongoing US-led air strikes on Iran. After opening 3.44 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was quoted at 5,579.06 at 9:12 a.m., down 212.85 points, or 3.67 percent. The index plunged 7.24 percent to close at 5,791.91 as investor sentiment was dampened by escalating geopolitical concerns triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The United States and

March 4, 2026

Seoul shares plummet over 7% on Middle East conflict fears; won sharply down

South Korean stocks plunged more than 7 percent Tuesday to close below the 5,800-point mark as investor sentiment was dampened by escalating geopolitical concerns triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The Korean won lost sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index tumbled 452.22 points, or 7.24 percent, to close at 5,791.91, marking the lowest closing price since Feb. 20, when the index finished at 5,808.53. The country's main bourse operator, the Kore

March 3, 2026

Kospi tumbles 7%, sidecar triggered on Iran fears

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi plunged over 7 percent Tuesday amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. A temporary trading curb was triggered during the session. The Kospi closed at its day low of 5,791.91, down 7.24 percent from the previous session, marking the first trading day after the joint US-Israel attack on Iran. While the index initially opened at 6,165.15 and held above the 6,000 level in early trading, losses accelerated through the afternoon h

March 3, 2026

S. Korean stocks open 1.26% lower in 1st session following US air strikes on Iran

South Korean stocks started sharply lower Tuesday amid subdued investor sentiment over ongoing US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 78.98 points, or 1.26 percent, to 6,165.15 at the opening at 9 a.m. in the first trading session following the US-led attacks on Iran. The index further extended its losses to 6,100.61 at 9:13 a.m. The United States and Israel conducted coordinated attacks on Iran over the weekend and killed Tehran's Supreme Leader

March 3, 2026

Mirae Asset’s TIGER Kosdaq150 ETF crosses W2tr mark

Mirae Asset Global Investments said Thursday that its TIGER Kosdaq150 ETF had surpassed 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in net assets, buoyed by strong market performance and renewed policy momentum surrounding the Kosdaq market. According to the Korea Exchange, the ETF’s net assets stood at 2.29 trillion won as of Wednesday’s close. The fund has added 1.96 trillion won so far this year, expanding its size nearly sevenfold. The ETF posted a 36.15 percent return during the same period, while retail

Feb. 27, 2026

Seoul shares open sharply lower following previous day's rally

South Korean stocks opened nearly 1 percent lower Friday on apparent profit-taking following a strong performance the previous session. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 56.98 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,250.29 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Thursday, the Kospi soared more than 3 percent to close at a record high above 6,300. Overnight, US stocks finished mixed. The Nasdaq Composite slid 1.2 percent as US chipmaker Nvidia Corp. fell 5.5 percent, despite reporting s

Feb. 27, 2026

Seoul shares continue record-breaking rally to close above 6,300 on strong chip gains; won at 1-month high

South Korean stocks soared more than 3 percent to close at a fresh record high of over 6,300 Thursday as investors were buoyed by artificial intelligence prospects following Nvidia Corp.'s better-than-expected earnings report. The local currency gained slightly against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index earned 223.41 points, or 3.67 percent, to finish at a record high of 6,307.27. The index has risen for the six consecutive day. The Kospi has continued its bullish mod

Feb. 26, 2026

Kakao Pay surges as Circle earnings fuel stablecoin rally

Kakao Pay, the payments arm of Kakao Corp., surged on Thursday after the USDC issuer Circle delivered an overnight earnings surprise that rippled through stablecoin-linked shares in Seoul. The stock climbed as much as 14 percent to 73,300 won ($51.38) in morning trading on the Kospi before retreating to below 70,000 won by the afternoon. The rally came as Kakao Pay, viewed as one of the leading players in Korea’s emerging stablecoin sector, tracks Circle’s roughly 35 percent jump in New York ove

Feb. 26, 2026

Seoul shares open higher on strong Nvidia earnings

South Korean stocks pulled off a strong start Thursday as US chip giant Nvidia Corp.'s better-than-expected earnings report fueled a rally in semiconductor shares here. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 90.76 points, or 1.49 percent, to 6,174.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks finished higher as the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.63 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.26 percent. Nvidia reported its fourth-quarter revenue of $68.1

Feb. 26, 2026

Kospi breaks 6,000 for first time in chip-led surge

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi vaulted past 6,000 points Wednesday, continuing on its blistering rally just a month after crossing the 5,000-point threshold. The Kospi closed at 6,083.86 points on the day, marking a gain of 1.91 percent, from the previous session. The index opened over 6,000, kicking off the session at 6,022.7. During trading, it extended the gains and surged as high as 6,144.71, surpassing the 6,100 threshold as well. Wednesday was the first time the benchmark had risen past 6,0

Feb. 25, 2026

Kospi breaks 6,000 as chip giants power rally

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi vaulted past 6,000 in early trading Wednesday, riding a powerful chip-led surge. The Kospi was quoted at 6,022.7 at the opening bell, marking a 53.06 point, or 0.89 percent gain, from the previous session. It was the first time the benchmark had risen past 6,000 points. After touching a high of 6,039.18, it retreated to 6,005.04 as of 9:20 a.m. The milestone comes roughly four months after the index first broke the 4,000 mark on Oct. 27 last year, and just a month a

Feb. 25, 2026

Seoul stocks rally over 2% to land at fresh record high above 5,900 on tech rally

Seoul shares surged more than 2 percent Tuesday to close at a fresh record high above the 5,900-point mark, driven by strong gains in technology shares. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 123.55 points, or 2.11 percent, to finish at an all-time high of 5,969.64. The index has extended its upward momentum in recent weeks, surpassing the 5,000-point mark for the first time on Jan. 27 and crossing 5,500 on Feb. 12. It moved above 5,80

Feb. 24, 2026