South Korean Shares Plunge

2026-08-19 01:40 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI fell 5.80% to close at 6,471 on Wednesday, extending losses from the previous session, as a global bond selloff weighed on investor sentiment.

The US 30-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since 2007, while long-term bond yields also reached multi-year highs in Japan and Europe, raising concerns over higher borrowing costs and pressuring growth and technology stocks.

The global technology selloff hit Korean chipmakers particularly hard, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix plunging 7.54% and 9.93%, respectively, tracking losses in US semiconductor stocks.

Losses were also recorded in SK Square (-11.54%), Hyundai Motor (-5.17%), KB Financial Group (-1.72%), Kia Corporation (-3.21%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.06%).

At the same time, higher oil prices added to inflation concerns after President Donald Trump said the US is not in talks with Iran, while stalled peace efforts raised fears of further disruptions to oil supplies from the Middle East.



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South Korean Shares Plunge
The benchmark KOSPI fell 5.80% to close at 6,471 on Wednesday, extending losses from the previous session, as a global bond selloff weighed on investor sentiment. The US 30-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since 2007, while long-term bond yields also reached multi-year highs in Japan and Europe, raising concerns over higher borrowing costs and pressuring growth and technology stocks. The global technology selloff hit Korean chipmakers particularly hard, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix plunging 7.54% and 9.93%, respectively, tracking losses in US semiconductor stocks. Losses were also recorded in SK Square (-11.54%), Hyundai Motor (-5.17%), KB Financial Group (-1.72%), Kia Corporation (-3.21%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.06%). At the same time, higher oil prices added to inflation concerns after President Donald Trump said the US is not in talks with Iran, while stalled peace efforts raised fears of further disruptions to oil supplies from the Middle East.
2026-08-19
South Korean Shares End Lower
The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.55% to close at 6,870 on Tuesday, snapping a five-day rally, as fading hopes for a US-Iran deal prompted profit-taking following a sharp semiconductor-led rally. Foreign investors remained net buyers of Korean equities, while retail investors and institutions sold, suggesting the pullback was driven more by profit-taking than a broad retreat from Korean assets. Samsung Electronics slipped 2.00%, along with notable losses in SK Square (-2.17%), Hyundai Motor (-4.42%), LG Energy Solution (-5.01%), Hanwha Aerospace (-1.29%), Kia Corporation (-3.39%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-4.12%), and Doosan Enerbility (-5.57%). Additionally, renewed uncertainty over the US-Iran agreement pushed oil prices higher and revived inflation concerns, while elevated Treasury yields added to pressure on global risk appetite. Ongoing US-Korea trade negotiations over the planned US$200 billion investment commitment also remained a source of uncertainty for Korean exporters.
2026-08-18
South Korean Shares Hit 1-Month High
The benchmark KOSPI climbed more than 2% to around 7,150 on Tuesday, extending gains to its highest level in a month, led by strong advances in major chipmakers. Samsung Electronics rose nearly 3%, while SK hynix jumped more than 7%, as continued strength in the global semiconductor sector and optimism over AI-related demand supported technology stocks. Notable gains were also recorded in SK Square (7.4%), Samsung C&T Corp. (3.3%), LG Electronics (1.6%), SK Inc (4.8%), and LS Electric Co. (5.1%). Meanwhile, global risk appetite was limited, as the expiration of a 60-day US-Iran agreement without an extension heightened concerns over renewed conflict and disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices higher and lifting Treasury yields. At the same time, investors continued to monitor South Korea’s trade negotiations with the US, with Seoul seeking to resolve outstanding issues surrounding its planned US$200 billion investment commitment.
2026-08-18