South Korean Shares Fall on Profit-Taking

2026-08-24 01:44 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI fell 3.12% to close at 6,697 on Monday, reversing gains from the previous session, as investors took profits in chip stocks ahead of Nvidia's earnings this week.

Samsung Electronics plunged 8.35%, while SK hynix slipped 2.60%, as investors remained cautious about the outlook for the AI-driven semiconductor rally.

Additionally, rising global bond yields pressured equities, with the US 30-year Treasury yield reaching its highest level in nearly 20 years.

Renewed Middle East tensions also pushed Brent crude toward $90 per barrel, raising concerns over higher inflation and keeping pressure on global risk appetite.

Losses were also seen in SK Square (-4.10%), Samsung C&T Corp (-7.71%), KB Financial Group (-0.79%), and SK Inc (-6.31%).

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics' record shareholder-return plan to return up to KRW 110 trillion for shareholders this year, including KRW 30 trillion in third-quarter dividends, follows SK hynix's KRW 40 trillion buyback.



News Stream
South Korean Shares Rally on Chip Gains
The benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.65% to close at 7,008 on Monday, rallying for a second straight session amid strong global semiconductor momentum. Samsung Electronics advanced 4.79% after US semiconductor stocks rallied, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 2.78% on Friday. Additionally, South Korea's exports surged 78% year-on-year in the first 20 days of September, driven by a 259% jump in semiconductor shipments to $34.1 billion, highlighting continued strength in chip demand and the earnings outlook for chipmakers. Other notable performers included SK Square (4.36%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (2.81%), KB Financial Group (1.49%), Samsung C&T Corp (4.99%), Shinhan Financial Group (2.91%), Hana Financial Group (1.73%), and LG Electronics (2.07%). Meanwhile, Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel amid ongoing Middle East tensions, keeping inflation and broader macroeconomic concerns in focus.
2026-09-21
South Korean Shares Rise on Tech Gains
The benchmark KOSPI climbed 2.66% to close at 6,894 on Friday, recovering losses from the previous session, as a rebound in US technology stocks lifted regional equities. The Nasdaq advanced 1.7% overnight, with technology shares recovering after the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike, while easing US Treasury yields and lower Brent crude prices reduced concerns over borrowing costs and inflation. Additionally, strong demand for AI-related semiconductors continued to drive gains in major chipmakers, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix advancing 2.97% and 5.56%, respectively. Also, reports that the US may delay announcing new tariffs related to excess industrial capacity until after next week’s Trump-Xi summit reduced an immediate trade risk for Korean exporters. Meanwhile, renewed pressure on the Bank of Korea to raise rates following the Federal Reserve’s latest hike remained a potential constraint on the broader recovery.
2026-09-18
South Korean Shares End Little Changed
The benchmark KOSPI edged down 0.04% to close at 6,715 on Thursday, ending nearly flat from the previous session as investors weighed the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike in more than three years. The Fed raised its policy rate by 25bp to 3.75%-4.00% and signaled another increase could come later this year, limiting the index’s advance despite the move being largely priced in. Additionally, foreign investors extended their net selling streak to seven sessions. Individual stocks were mixed, with Samsung Electronics (-0.20%), SK hynix (-0.85%), SK Square (-1.32%), and LG Energy Solution (-0.86%) declining, while KB Financial Group (1.30%), Doosan Enerbility (1.91%), and Hanwha Aerospace (3.89%) gained. Meanwhile, Brent crude fell nearly 3% to around $105 a barrel as concerns over oil supply disruptions eased, reducing some of the drag from elevated energy costs.
2026-09-17