Short selling turnover decreases one month after resumption

Short selling activity in South Korea has returned to near pre-ban levels about a month after a yearlong suspension was lifted, the bourse operator said Sunday. On March 31, South Korea reinstated short selling for all listed companies, ending a ban that began in November 2023 following revelations of naked short selling violations involving several global investment banks. According to the Korea Exchange, short selling on the main KOSPI and secondary KOSDAQ markets averaged 848.5 billion won pe

May 4, 2025

Seoul shares open lower amid tariff woes, political turmoil

Seoul shares opened lower Friday, weighed down by losses in tech and auto stocks, as investors continued to assess the impact of US President Donald Trump's import tariffs on major companies' earnings and the political turmoil at home. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 12.86 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,543.75 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The main index bucked overnight gains on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.21 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq

May 2, 2025

Seoul shares rise for 3rd day on auto, bio gains; tariff concerns linger

Seoul shares extended their winning streak to a third day Tuesday, led by auto and bio gains, though investors remain cautious about US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. The Korean won also rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 16.56 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 2,565.42. Trade volume was moderate at 526.42 million shares worth 8.03 trillion won ($5.58 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 659 to 236. Institutions bought a net 356

April 29, 2025

Seoul shares open lower amid tariff concerns

Seoul shares opened lower Tuesday following a mixed close on Wall Street, as investors remained cautious over the future direction of tariff policies under US President Donald Trump's administration. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 5.2 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,543.66 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1 percent. In Seoul, tech and shipbuilding stocks led the lo

April 29, 2025

[Contribution] Defining the 'yard' in the age of economic security

By Kim Yoo-suk President of Chey Institute for Advanced Studies As globalization gives way to a new era of economic security, the phrase “small yard, high fence” has become a strategic touchstone. Before building ever-higher fences — through tariffs, export controls and other protectionist tools — we must first define the yard we intend to protect. For the United States and its allies, including South Korea, this requires not just a defensive posture, but strategic clarity on what technologies a

April 28, 2025

Seoul shares rise nearly 1% over S. Korea-US tariff negotiations

South Korean stocks finished nearly 1 percent higher Friday, as investors assessed the outcome of the first round of tariff talks between Seoul and Washington. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 23.97 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 2,546.3. Trade volume was thin at 386.27 million shares worth 8.2 trillion won ($5.78 billion), with winners beating losers 645 to 238. Institutions and foreign investors combined purchased a net

April 25, 2025

DN Solutions gears up for W1.6tr IPO, eyes US manufacturing push

DN Solutions, Korea’s biggest and the world's No. 3 machine tool maker by market share, has pledged to continue strengthening its US businesses as it gears up for what could be Korea’s biggest initial public offering in three years. “DN Solutions’ market share in the US jumped to the second place from the fourth place last year,” said DN Solutions CEO Kim Won-jong in a press conference at the Conrad Seoul on Friday. “We will turn the US tariff policies into opportunities. We want to become the s

April 25, 2025

Seoul shares open higher amid US tariff optimism

South Korean stocks opened markedly higher Friday, tracking Wall Street gains, after South Korea and the United States agreed to craft a package of deals on the US' new tariff scheme by July. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 19.53 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,541.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Investors closely watched the first round of trade talks between South Korea and the US held in Washington on Thursday, where the two sides agreed to pursue a tariff deal befor

April 25, 2025

Seoul shares end lower ahead of US tariff talks

South Korean stocks finished a tad lower Thursday as investors awaited tariff talks with the United States amid deepening concerns over economic growth. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 3.23 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 2,522.33. Trade volume was slim at 323.69 million shares worth 7.22 trillion won ($5.03 billion), with losers beating winners 457 to 403. Institutions and foreign investors shed a net 198.44 billion won an

April 24, 2025

Short selling of SK hynix surges to record on trade, AI concerns

Bearish bets on shares of SK hynix surged to an all-time high this month, as South Korea ended its ban on short-selling at perhaps the worst possible time for the memory chipmaker. The March 31 regulatory change made for a triple whammy on the stock, with investors souring on the AI theme while the US kicked off a global trade war. Even with SK hynix expected to post strong earnings Thursday, short-sellers are betting on a bleak outlook. Short sales of SK hynix shares have reached 1.5 trillion w

April 23, 2025

Seoul shares rise to 1-month high amid tariff optimism

South Korean stocks rose to the highest level in about a month Wednesday as investors harbored expectations for upcoming tariff talks with the United States, as well as for easing Sino-US trade tensions. The local currency remained flat against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 38.92 points, or 1.57 percent, to close at 2,525.56, which was the highest level since March 28, when the index finished at 2,557.98. Trade volume was moderate at 529.94 million shares w

April 23, 2025

Seoul shares open higher on hopes for eased Sino-US trade tensions

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Wednesday, tracking Wall Street gains, amid hopes for easing tariff tensions between the United States and China. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 27.38 points, or 1.1 percent, to 2,514.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US shares surged after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expected the trade war with China to de-escalate and a deal would be reached, according to foreign media reports. Investors also we

April 23, 2025

Mirae Asset’s Aussie unit surpasses A$10b under management

Global X Australia, an exchange-traded fund manager under Mirae Asset Global Investments, has garnered over 10 billion Australian dollars ($6.4 billion) in assets under management, showing sharp growth, according to the firm’s announcement on Monday. The Aussie ETF provider's assets under management more than doubled from the A$4.64 billion in 2022 when Mirae Asset acquired the firm, to hitting the A$10 billion milestone in just three years. With the assets under management, it is the fifth-larg

April 21, 2025

Seoul shares rise for 3rd day; tariff talks in focus

South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Monday as investors await upcoming tariff negotiations with the United States. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 5.0 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 2,488.42, extending its winning streak to a third session. Trade volume was slim at 423.58 million shares worth 5.18 trillion won ($3.66 billion), with winners beating losers 499 to 370. Individuals and institutions purchased a net 185

April 21, 2025

Seoul shares open tad higher amid tariff woes

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as the country is set for negotiations with the United States over the sweeping tariff scheme. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.61 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,489.03 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Seoul's industry ministry said Sunday that the government plans to kick-start tariff negotiations with the Donald Trump administration later this week in Washington. South Korea was slapped with 25 percent reciprocal tari

April 21, 2025