South Korean Shares Hit Nearly 3-Month Low

2026-07-20 01:43 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI fell 4.46% to close at 6,516 on Monday, its lowest level since late April, as weakness in global semiconductor stocks weighed on investor sentiment.

The decline followed another week of losses on Wall Street, where semiconductor shares remained under pressure amid lingering concerns over AI-related spending and valuations, weighing on broader market sentiment.

Escalating Middle East tensions also dampened investor sentiment following continued US military strikes against Iran, fueling concerns over disruptions to energy supplies and pushing oil prices higher.

Losses were seen in Samsung Electronics (-4.12%), SK Hynix (-3.85%), Hyundai Motor (-6.35%), LG Energy Solution (-4.79%), and KB Financial Group (-7.18%).

Meanwhile, Samsung Biologics agreed to acquire Switzerland's PolyPeptide Group in a $1.8 billion all-cash deal, the largest acquisition in South Korea's biopharmaceutical industry, expanding its global CDMO business and peptide manufacturing capabilities.



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South Korean Shares Hit Nearly 3-Month Low
The benchmark KOSPI fell 4.46% to close at 6,516 on Monday, its lowest level since late April, as weakness in global semiconductor stocks weighed on investor sentiment. The decline followed another week of losses on Wall Street, where semiconductor shares remained under pressure amid lingering concerns over AI-related spending and valuations, weighing on broader market sentiment. Escalating Middle East tensions also dampened investor sentiment following continued US military strikes against Iran, fueling concerns over disruptions to energy supplies and pushing oil prices higher. Losses were seen in Samsung Electronics (-4.12%), SK Hynix (-3.85%), Hyundai Motor (-6.35%), LG Energy Solution (-4.79%), and KB Financial Group (-7.18%). Meanwhile, Samsung Biologics agreed to acquire Switzerland's PolyPeptide Group in a $1.8 billion all-cash deal, the largest acquisition in South Korea's biopharmaceutical industry, expanding its global CDMO business and peptide manufacturing capabilities.
2026-07-20
South Korean Shares Tumble on Tech Selloff
The benchmark KOSPI plunged 6.37% to close at 6,821 on Thursday, erasing gains from the previous session and approaching an over two-month low, as a global semiconductor selloff pressured technology shares. The decline followed overnight losses in US chipmakers, which reignited concerns over AI valuations and dragged South Korea's semiconductor heavyweights lower, with SK Hynix (-11.58%) and Samsung Electronics (-8.94%) tumbling sharply. Other notable losses included SK Square (-12.30%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-9.62%), and Doosan Enerbility (-4.52%). Investor sentiment was also dampened by escalating Middle East tensions after fresh US strikes on Iran fueled concerns over energy supplies and weighed on risk appetite. Separately, the Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% in line with expectations, marking the start of a new tightening cycle. Markets are closed on Friday in accordance to Constitution Day, trading will resume on July 20.
2026-07-16
South Korean Shares Climb on Global Tech Rally
The benchmark KOSPI climbed 6.24% to close at 7,284 on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session amid a global technology rally. Softer-than-expected US inflation data boosted semiconductor stocks and reduced expectations of near-term Federal Reserve tightening, supporting risk appetite. Heavyweight chipmakers led the advance, with SK Hynix surging 9.46% after its US-listed shares rallied overnight, aided by a rebound in global semiconductor stocks and a favorable brokerage initiation. Samsung Electronics also jumped 6.27%, while SK Square (16.72%), Hyundai Motor (2.12%), LG Energy Solution (4.04%), Kia Corporation (3.87%), and Hanwha Aerospace (6.6%) advanced. Investor sentiment was further supported after South Korea's finance ministry said the country's economic recovery was solidifying on the back of robust exports and improving domestic demand, while raising its 2026 growth forecast to 3%.
2026-07-15