South Korean Shares End Nearly Flat

2026-03-06 06:45 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI ended nearly flat at 5,585 on Friday, as easing oil prices helped stabilize sentiment after early losses.

Global crude benchmarks including Brent crude oil and West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated slightly after surging above $80 earlier in the week on escalating tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

The pullback in oil prices eased immediate concerns about energy-driven inflation, offering some support to equities.

However, gains remained limited as geopolitical risks in the Middle East continued to cloud the outlook for global energy supply, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, authorities in South Korea said they would closely monitor financial and energy market volatility and take preemptive measures if needed, as rising fuel prices risk adding to inflationary pressures.

Losses were led by Samsung Electronics (-1.77%), SK hynix (-2.13%), and SK Square (-2.47%), while Hyundai Motor (0.55%) and LG Energy Solution (1.35%) edged higher.



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South Korean Shares End Nearly Flat
The benchmark KOSPI ended nearly flat at 5,585 on Friday, as easing oil prices helped stabilize sentiment after early losses. Global crude benchmarks including Brent crude oil and West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated slightly after surging above $80 earlier in the week on escalating tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The pullback in oil prices eased immediate concerns about energy-driven inflation, offering some support to equities. However, gains remained limited as geopolitical risks in the Middle East continued to cloud the outlook for global energy supply, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, authorities in South Korea said they would closely monitor financial and energy market volatility and take preemptive measures if needed, as rising fuel prices risk adding to inflationary pressures. Losses were led by Samsung Electronics (-1.77%), SK hynix (-2.13%), and SK Square (-2.47%), while Hyundai Motor (0.55%) and LG Energy Solution (1.35%) edged higher.
2026-03-06
South Korean Shares Slide on Oil Surge
The benchmark KOSPI fell more than 2% to around 5,450 on Friday, retreating after a sharp rebound in the previous session as rising oil prices and weaker global risk sentiment weighed on the market. Escalating conflict involving Iran heightened fears of potential disruptions to energy supplies in the Middle East, sending crude prices sharply higher. The spike in oil prices raised concerns about renewed inflation pressures, particularly for energy-importing economies such as South Korea. Domestically, authorities also raised an energy supply alert as the government moved to monitor fuel markets more closely amid the recent surge in global oil prices. Additionally, losses on Wall Street added to the cautious mood across Asian markets, with major US indexes falling more than 1% overnight as investors shifted away from riskier assets. Heavyweight stocks declined, including Samsung Electronics (-3.9%) and SK hynix (-4.4%), alongside SK Square (-6.0%) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-2.3%).
2026-03-06
Korean Shares Rebound on Tech Rally
The benchmark KOSPI surged 9.63% to close at 5,584 on Thursday after tumbling nearly 20% over the previous three sessions, as semiconductor and broader technology shares bounced back from the historic selloff. The Korea Exchange reactivated a sidecar trading curb on the benchmark, temporarily suspending programme trading for five minutes amid elevated volatility. Domestic equities also mirrored a tech-led rebound on Wall Street overnight, supported by stabilizing oil prices and easing inflation concerns, although hostilities between the US and Iran continued without clear signs of de-escalation. For the recovery in risk assets to be sustained, investors will likely require clearer guidance on the conflict’s duration and its implications for growth and price dynamics. Leading chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix jumped 11.15% and 10.95%, respectively. Other standout gainers included Hanmi Semiconductor (20.85%), Hyundai Motor Company (9.18%), and SK Square (11.05%).
2026-03-05