News

STOCK

2025/06/27 22:35

Stock 2025. 6. 27 KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,055.94 ▼-23.62 -0.77% KOSDAQ : 781.56 ▼-6.39 -0.81% KOSPI200 : 412.72 ▼-2.94 -0.71% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 40,073.64 ▲489.06 +1.24% HANG SENG : 24,284.15 ▼41.25 -0.17% SHANGHAI : 3,424.23 ▼24.22 -0.70% WALL STREET (June 26) DOW JONES : 43,386.84 ▲404.41 +0.94% NASDAQ : 20,167.91 ▲194.36 +0.97% S&P500 : 6,141.02 ▲48.86 +0.80% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,357.40 (+0.50) JPY : 940.45 (+2.17) CNY : 189.36 (-0.02) EUR : 1,588.36 (+4.11)

Tariff delay possibility explained --is White House under pressure?

2025/06/27 19:35

So what does a potential U.S. extension in country-specific tariffs mean for South Korea? Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon asked a few pundits for their thoughts. Do take a listen. The White House's comment on the tariff negotiation deadline comes after other recent signs that the possibility of a deadline delay was looming. White House Economic Adviser Stephen Miran had also said on Thursday, local time, that he thinks the tariff deadlines will likely be extended for countries that are making a genuine effort to negotiate trade deals with the US. He said that in such cases, he doesn't expect tariff rates to suddenly increase. Experts say this shows that things aren't going the way the U.S. expected when it comes to tariff negotiations. "Trump is in a tough spot. Things aren't going his way — especially on trade. Negotiations aren't producing the results he wanted with tax policy issues in his hands as well. In terms of trade, nothing is working as he thought." So far, the UK is the only country to have concluded its trade talks. South Korea, meanwhile, dispatched Trade Minister Yeo Han-goo to Washington this week for high-level discussions — but no breakthrough has been announced. Observers say the delays could actually work in favor of the negotiating countries. "As the U.S. midterm elections approach November next year, Washington's leverage weakens. That makes it more desperate to produce a deal it can sell to voters as a win — meaning it's giving off signals that it needs the deal more than the others do." Analysts also argue that if the U.S. were confident about its position, it would've gone ahead with the reciprocal tariffs already announced earlier this year — rather than signaling a possible extension. "Trump has two options. Stick to the July 9 deadline and enforce reciprocal tariffs — or postpone them. But if the U.S. slaps on tariffs, prices on imported goods rise, and that could hurt American consumers. So instead, it's backing off." Still, the White House isn't ruling anything out. A spokesperson said President Trump could still opt for reciprocal tariffs if he believes they serve U.S. interests and benefit American workers. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

S&P 500 nears all-time high on expectations of reciprocal tariff extension

2025/06/27 13:35

Wall Street on Thursday rallied thanks to expectations that the July deadline for reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration may be extended. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up nearly one percent from the previous trading session, at 43-thousand-386-point-8-4. The S&P 500 also rose as high as 6-thousand-146-point-5-2, coming close to breaking its all-time intraday high set back in February 29th. The positive momentum comes amid geopolitical risks in the Middle East easing, and the White House raising the administration's prospects of extending the deadline for reciprocal tariffs.

Squid dishes over Squid Game: Korea's loved seafood is coming back to East Sea

2025/06/27 12:35

Koreans love for squid is evident in that, one, there's a game named after it and two, there are loads of different dishes made with squid. Stir-fried, steamed, and even served raw it's one of Korea's most sought-after seafoods. But for the past few years, it's been hard to get a hold of. This year, there's been full tanks on a daily basis. Our Kim Do-yeon went to see the freshest catch. Many will know that Squid Game season 3 is coming this week, but what many might not know yet, is that squid has also made a comeback this year. And it's here at Jumunjin Port where it's the most evident. With the break of dawn arriving are boats that spent over night in the waters catching one of Korea's most beloved seafoods. And with their arrival begins not a Squid Game of survival but a real game of livelihood survival. "RING RING RING" It's the daily auction for live squid as retailers and restaurant owners compete for their supply. The process is simple: they write down their offers after hearing the catch volume. Each lot is sold in bundles of 20. And soon, the winners are called. "Number 15, 14 boxes for 59,000 each. Number 31, 13 boxes for 58,200" The system isn't new — but what is new this year is the squid. After five years of declining catch volumes, things have turned around — especially since June, when the permitted fishing season began. As of mid-June, Gangwon-do Province had caught 875 tons of squid — a 276 percent increase from the same period last year, and well above the three-year average. That translates to over 81.8 billion won in squid sold so far this year or about 60.5 million U.S. dollars compared to 74.3 billion last year, despite last year having only a third of this year's catch. One bidder explains the price shift: "I won my batch with around 60,000 won bid today. This is about a third of last year's price." The price they're sold daily at ports like this one will be reflected for regular consumers. "Once the auction wraps up, the live squid are distributed quickly for the winning bidders each placed into the fish tank for shipment across the country." Increased volume means much more than just to the ones in the squid business. "With squid coming in after years of scarcity, it's good for everyone — not just sellers, but also the people who sell ice, boxes everyone makes a living off this." Meanwhile, the city of Gangneung has a specialty as it's the core of squid fishing. Raw squid dishes, especially squid moolhwe a cold spicy soup dish is a specialty. "When we didn't have any squid, we had to give up on them and use flounder instead. But, with the increased supply, customers are now looking for squid moolhwe this year." While Squid Game comes back with an anticipation to top the streaming charts squid dishes are already back and topping tables. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News, Gangneung.

Stock

2025/06/26 22:42

2025. 6. 26. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,079.56 ▼-28.69 -0.92% KOSDAQ : 787.95 ▼-10.26 -1.29% KOSPI200 : 415.66 ▼-3.85 -0.92% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 39,584.58 ▲642.51 +1.65% HANG SENG : 24,325.40 ▼149.27 -0.61% SHANGHAI : 3,448.45 ▼7.52 -0.22% WALL STREET (June 25) DOW JONES : 42,982.43 ▼106.59 -0.25% NASDAQ : 19,973.55 ▲61.01 +0.31% S&P500 : 6,092.16 ▼0.02 -0.00% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,356.90 (-5.50) JPY : 938.28 (-0.30) CNY : 189.38 (-0.69) EUR : 1,584.25 (+1.07)

Squid dishes over Squid Game: Korea's loved seafood is coming back to East Sea

2025/06/26 22:40

Koreans love for squid is evident in that, one, there's a game named after it and two, there are loads of different dishes made with squid. Stir-fried, steamed, and even served raw it's one of Korea's most sought-after seafoods. But for the past few years, it's been hard to get a hold of. This year, there's been full tanks on a daily basis. Our Kim Do-yeon went to see the freshest catch. Many will know that Squid Game season 3 is coming this week, but what many might not know yet, is that squid has also made a comeback this year. And it's here at Jumunjin Port where it's the most evident. With the break of dawn arriving are boats that spent over night in the waters catching one of Korea's most beloved seafoods. And with their arrival begins not a Squid Game of survival but a real game of livelihood survival. "RING RING RING" It's the daily auction for live squid as retailers and restaurant owners compete for their supply. The process is simple: they write down their offers after hearing the catch volume. Each lot is sold in bundles of 20. And soon, the winners are called. "Number 15, 14 boxes for 59,000 each. Number 31, 13 boxes for 58,200" The system isn’t new — but what is new this year is the squid. After five years of declining catch volumes, things have turned around — especially since June, when the permitted fishing season began. As of mid-June, Gangwon-do Province had caught 875 tons of squid — a 276 percent increase from the same period last year, and well above the three-year average. That translates to over 81.8 billion won in squid sold so far this year or about 60.5 million U.S. dollars compared to 74.3 billion last year, despite last year having only a third of this year's catch. One bidder explains the price shift: "I won my batch with around 60,000 won bid today. This is about a third of last year's price." The price they're sold daily at ports like this one will be reflected for regular consumers. "Once the auction wraps up, the live squid are distributed quickly for the winning bidders each placed into the fish tank for shipment across the country." Increased volume means much more than just to the ones in the squid business. “With squid coming in after years of scarcity, it’s good for everyone — not just sellers, but also the people who sell ice, boxes everyone makes a living off this.” Meanwhile, the city of Gangneung has a specialty as it's the core of squid fishing. Raw squid dishes, especially squid moolhwe a cold spicy soup dish is a specialty. "When we didn't have any squid, we had to give up on them and use flounder instead. But, with the increased supply, customers are now looking for squid moolhwe this year." While Squid Game comes back with an anticipation to top the streaming charts squid dishes are already back and topping tables. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News, Gangneung.

[Econ & Biz] KOSPI back above 3,000 — what’s next?

2025/06/26 22:39

The past few weeks have been especially good for South Korea's stock market. The benchmark KOSPI crossed the 3-thousand mark threshold last Friday for the first time in 3 and a half years, and hopes are high that this could be just the beginning for South Korean shares. For more, we turn to our economic correspondent Park Jun-han. Welcome. Jun-han, it's been three weeks since the June 3rd presidential election. And it seems like the market is extending its post-election honeymoon rally? That's right, Dami. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI broke 3,100 on Tuesday for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. It's also notable that South Korea's stock market ranked first in returns for June among G20 countries. And this is by far the highest increase among all G20 countries, as no other country saw gains exceeding 5% in June. Now, among the various factors that led to the rally, experts point to eased uncertainties, and expectations surrounding the new Lee Jae Myung administration's economic policies as key reasons for the surge. Take a listen to what an economic analyst has to say about the momentum behind the rally. "The weakening of the dollar, coupled with a cycle of fiscal policy expansion and interest rate cuts in emerging economies outside the U.S., has created a favorable environment for investment. After a period of political uncertainty, the snap presidential election removed some of these and resulted in a strong inflow on policy expectations." 2. I see the reason why Korean stocks underperformed, but wasn't it just three months ago that the KOSPI recorded its yearly low? How did it go up over 30% in just a few months? Yes Dami. The first half of 2025 in South Korea was marked by both internal and external uncertainties, which the market is extremely sensitive to. As mentioned earlier, the political instability caused by the martial law declared last December by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol pressured investor sentiment and led to an outflow of foreign funds. Moreover, tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump also negatively impacted investor confidence. In early April, Trump announced plans to impose 25% "reciprocal" tariffs on Korea. The announcement heightened concerns about inflation and contributed to the weakening of the competitiveness of South Korean exports. However, Trump temporarily suspended reciprocal tariffs for 90 days just days after his initial announcement, leaving room for negotiation. Since then, stock markets around the world, which had plunged earlier, began to rebound. President Lee, who has long promised to usher in the "KOSPI 5,000 era," declared the start of this new chapter as, quote, a "new period with new hopes." Take a listen to what he said last week. "I hope that the Korean stock market, which is at 2,992.1 right now, will pass the 3,000 point mark and move into a new period, with new hopes." Lee also visited the Korea Exchange earlier this month and highlighted the importance of dividend payouts, and a zero-tolerance policy for stock price manipulation, pledging to lead the market through various reforms, including shareholder return policies and amendments to the Korean Commercial Act. 3. President Lee Jae Myung is more committed than ever to achieving KOSPI 5,000 during his term. Of course, it will be crucial for President Lee's policy pledges to be implemented swiftly. Take a listen to what a chief economist had to say about KOSPI's long-term growth outlook. "While the government is trying to stimulate domestic demand through a large-scale supplementary budget, measures such as expanding AI investment and improving systems related to commercial law amendments should be implemented swiftly. Moreover, the early settlement of tariff negotiations will help lay the foundation for achieving this goal within the next two to three years, if not immediately." 4. It could not be a smooth ride to see KOSPI reach 5-thousand. What are some of the obstacles that could hinder a further rally of South Korean stocks? Actually, there are some variables that could prevent further momentum. Tariff negotiations are approaching, with less than two weeks left until the deadline. Also, although there's a temporary ceasefire, the Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran could heighten market uncertainties if both sides clash again. Take a listen to what capital market experts have to say about factors that might affect the local market. "In the case of wars, we'll have to wait and see how long they last and how predictable they are, as both factors will affect the economy going forward." "I think the overall U.S. economy and tariff policy, along with South Korean companies' second quarter results, will be key factors in determining how our stock prices move in the third quarter." Investing always comes with both opportunities and risks. In times of rapidly changing markets, I encourage viewers of our channel to manage their assets wisely. Thank you, Jun-han, for the report. Thank you, Dami, I hope to see you again soon.

Triple economic squeeze: how should S. Korea respond to Middle East tension, tariffs, and slowing demand?

2025/06/26 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As of June 24th, a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel has taken effect, bringing a momentary sense of relief to global markets. Stocks rallied, oil prices plunged, and volatility eased. But beneath the surface, deeper risks are piling up. The U.S. Federal Reserve remains cautious on rate cuts, even as President Trump's renewed tariffs add inflation pressure. Meanwhile, Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz has reignited fears over global oil supply — a direct risk for South Korea, which depends on that route for nearly 70% of its crude imports. With domestic demand already fragile and the government pushing a 30.5 trillion won emergency budget, Korea now faces a dangerous mix: Middle East instability, U.S. trade tension, and internal slowdown. So, how serious is this triple threat — and what should we be doing now? For a deeper discussion on this, we connect to Song Soo-young, Professor of Business and Economics at Chung-Ang University. Welcome. Also joining us is Minjung Park, Professor of Business Administration at Kumoh National Institute of Technology. Good to see you. (SONG) 1. Let's begin with June 24th — the day markets reacted to the Iran–Israel ceasefire. U.S. stocks jumped over 1%, oil plunged more than 6%, and volatility dropped sharply. Was this just short-term relief after days of tension, or do you see early signs of a more lasting market rebound? (PARK) 2. That same day, Fed Chair Powell warned inflation could rise again this summer, staying cautious about a July rate cut. But markets are still hoping for an earlier move, even before September. With Trump's tariffs now adding new inflation risk, how should we interpret the Fed's current position? (SONG) 3. Turning to Korea's direct exposure — Iran's threat to block the Strait of Hormuz sent a clear warning. Nearly 70% of Korea's oil imports pass through that route. If a full blockade happens, what kind of economic shock should we prepare for? (SONG) 5. So with these risks building — what does Korea need to do right now, practically and strategically? What immediate responses should we be seeing, and what structural shifts should we start planning for? (PARK) 6. Another major pressure point is tariffs — Trump's new 50% duties on steel-derived appliances are now active. This puts Korean exporters, especially in electronics and appliances, in a tough spot. How much damage could this do to our trade performance? (SONG) 7. Exporters are already activating Plan Bs — shifting supply chains, raising prices, reworking production. But are Korean firms moving fast enough to adapt? Or do you see broader competitiveness risks emerging? (PARK) 8. On the policy front — the government's rolling out a 30.5 trillion won extra budget. With the Middle East still unstable and tariffs piling on, is that enough? Or are we going to need more rounds of support? (SONG) 9. There's also the balancing act — inflation is rising, but so is recession risk. Do we prioritize stimulus and risk fueling inflation? Or tighten up and risk stalling growth? What's the smarter path right now? (PARK) 10. Finally — we're now facing a rare mix of war fears, tariff battles, and shaky domestic demand. If you could send one clear message to Korea's economic leadership today, what would it be?

South Korea is best-performing market in June: Here's why

2025/06/26 19:37

The local bourse stands as the best performing stock market among the G20 based on findings from June second to June 25th. Our economic correspondent Park Jun-han takes a look at the factors that fueled the rally. As of Wednesday, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI recorded the highest return for June among major economies. According to data from the Korea Exchange, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI gained over 15% from June 2 to June 25. This is by far the largest increase among G20 countries, as no other economy has seen gains exceeding 5% during the month so far. In terms of index gains in 2025, the KOSPI is up over 700 points — from below 2,400 on January 2 to over 3,100 on June 25. This represents an increase of over 29% in less than six months. Among the various factors that led to the rally, experts point to eased uncertainties, and high expectations for the new Lee Jae Myung administration's economic policies as key reasons for the surge. "The weakening of the dollar, coupled with a cycle of fiscal policy expansion and interest rate cuts in emerging economies outside the U.S., have created a favorable environment for investment. After a period of political uncertainty, the snap presidential election removed some of this and resulted in a strong inflow on policy expectations." The first half of 2025 in South Korea was marked by both internal and external uncertainties, which the market is extremely sensitive to. The political instability caused by the martial law declaration last December by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol pressured investor sentiment and led to an outflow of foreign funds. Moreover, tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump also negatively impacted investor confidence. In early April, Trump announced plans to impose 25% "reciprocal tariffs" on Korea. The announcement heightened concerns about inflation and contributed to a weakened competitiveness for South Korean exports. However, Trump temporarily suspended the tariffs for 90 days just days after his initial announcement, leaving room for negotiation. Since then, stock markets around the world, which had plunged earlier, began to rebound. President Lee, who has long promised to usher in the "KOSPI 5,000 era," declared the start of a new chapter, as quote, a "new period with new hopes." Lee also visited the Korea Exchange earlier this month and highlighted the importance of dividend payouts and a zero-tolerance policy for stock price manipulation, pledging to lead the market through various reforms, including shareholder return policies and amendments to the Korean Commercial Act. However, there are potential concerns behind the rally. Tariff negotiations are approaching, with less than two weeks left until the deadline. Also, although there's a temporary ceasefire, the Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran could heighten market uncertainties if both sides clash again. "In the case of wars, we'll have to wait and see how long they last and how predictable they are, as both factors will affect the economy going forward." "I think the overall U.S. economy and tariff policy, along with South Korean companies' second quarter results, will be key factors in determining how our stock prices move in the third quarter." Now, the index has broken the crucial psychological resistance level of 3,000, investors are keeping a close eye on whether the rally can be sustained. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Fed chair says tariff impact on inflation hard to predict

2025/06/26 19:36

In the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says the inflationary impact of the Trump administration's tariffs is "very hard to predict." Speaking at the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday Powell said the impact of tariffs on prices could be larger or smaller than expected a risk that calls for prudence in policy-making. His latest testimony followed earlier remarks at the House Financial Services Committee during which he reiterated the Fed's wait-and-see stance on rate cuts. The central bank last week left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4-point-2-5 to 4-point-5 percent.

World News 2: Nvidia shares hit fresh record high

2025/06/26 12:37

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, as President Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Shares of Nvidia in particular jumped over 4%, closing at a record high for the first time since January. The strong performance helped lift the Nasdaq Composite by about 0-point-3 percent. The S&P 500 briefly touched an all-time intraday high before slipping slightly to close at a little over 6-thousand-92. Nvidia's market capitalization has now reached 3.77 trillion dollars, making it the world's most valuable company, narrowly ahead of Microsoft. Analysts say investors remain confident in Nvidia's dominance in the AI sector, despite tightened export controls to China under the Trump administration.

Stock

2025/06/25 22:42

2025. 6. 25. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,108.25 ▲4.61 +0.15% KOSDAQ : 798.21 ▼2.72 -0.34% KOSPI200 : 419.51 ▲1.75 +0.42% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,942.07 ▲151.51 +0.39% HANG SENG : 24,474.67 ▲297.60 +1.23% SHANGHAI : 3,455.97 ▲35.41 +1.04% WALL STREET (June 24) DOW JONES : 43,089.02 ▲507.24 +1.19% NASDAQ : 19,912.53 ▲281.55 +1.43% S&P500 : 6,092.18 ▲67.01 +1.11% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,362.40 (+2.20) JPY : 938.58 (+1.32) CNY : 190.07 (+0.50) EUR : 1,583.18 (+3.04)

MSCI keeps S. Korea in emerging-market category, citing limited FX market access

2025/06/25 11:34

South Korea has failed to advance toward developed-market status under the MSCI's latest market classification review. The index provider on Wednesday kept the country in its emerging-market category, citing limited reforms in the foreign exchange market, and restricted access to investment instruments. The MSCI noted that despite some efforts to improve market accessibility, progress has been insufficient, and further talks on Korea's reclassification would require the full implementation of reforms and resolutions to all key issues. The announcement is a blow to Seoul's efforts to eliminate the so-called "Korea discount," whereby Korean firms trade at a lower valuation than their global rivals.

Stock

2025/06/24 23:41

2025. 6. 24. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,103.64 ▲89.17 +2.96% KOSDAQ : 800.93 ▲16.14 +2.06% KOSPI200 : 417.76 ▲13.44 +3.32% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,790.56 ▲436.47 +1.14% HANG SENG : 24,177.07 ▲487.94 +2.06% SHANGHAI : 3,420.57 ▲38.98 +1.15% WALL STREET (June 23) DOW JONES : 42,581.78 ▲374.96 +0.89% NASDAQ : 19,630.98 ▲183.57 +0.94% S&P500 : 6,025.17 ▲57.33 +0.96% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,360.20 (-24.10) JPY : 937.26 (-2.17) CNY : 189.57 (-3.07) EUR : 1,580.14 (-13.05)

Consumer sentiment highest in 4 years after political stabilization and supplementary budget

2025/06/24 23:36

Consumer confidence in South Korea is on the rebound, hitting its highest level in four years driven by eased political tensions, fresh budget plans, and expectations for new economic policies. Kim Do-yeon has the details. Consumer sentiment in South Korea continued to improve in June, marking a third straight month of gains and hitting the highest level in four years since June 2021. According to the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the Composite Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 108-point-7, up 6-point-9 points from May. After plunging 12-point-5 points in December during the martial law crisis, sentiment has swung back and forth but it's now been on the rise for three consecutive months. This survey was done on 25-hundred households between June 10th to 17th. The index reflects six key factors including current living conditions, future income, and economic outlook. A reading above 100 signals optimism, while anything below indicates pessimism. All six components improved compared to May. Notably, assessments of current economic conditions and future outlook saw the biggest gains. The central bank attributed the rise to reduced political uncertainty, the second extra budget, and expectations for new government policies. In addition, with some time before the second supplementary budget of the year passes the National Assembly, the BOK said this trend is likely to continue for some time. Meanwhile, the house price outlook index jumped nine points to 120 the highest since October 2021 and the sharpest increase in more than two years. It suggests more households now expect home prices, especially in Seoul, to rise. In contrast, expectations for interest rates dropped six points, hitting the lowest level since June 2020. Inflation expectations for the next year also edged down by 0.2 percentage points. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

South Korean stocks show strong increase following easing of tensions in Middle East

2025/06/24 23:35

Local stocks here in South Korea responded favorably to Trump's claim of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The benchmark KOSPI topped the 3-thousand-100 mark. Our correspondent Park Jun-han has more. South Korea's stock market rallied with strong momentum on Tuesday, with potential reports indicating a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI, for the first time in three years and nine months, surpassed 31-hundred points and closed with over 3-thousand-1-hundred-3 points, up 2-point-96 percent from Monday's close. Also, South Korea's tech-heavy KOSDAQ closed beyond 800 points for the first time in 11 months. "With oil prices falling and the U.S. dollar weakening again, foreign demand for South Korean stocks picked up, leading to strong buying. This helped the KOSPI break through the 31-hundred mark during intraday trading." Among stocks that showed a strong increase on Tuesday were some of the country's tech giants, SK hynix and Samsung Electronics. SK hynix once again broke its all-time high, surpassing the 280-thousand won mark, while Samsung Electronics rebounded to the 60-thousand won level during the day. The won's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar fell as tensions deescalated. The rate opened at 1-thousand-3-hundred-69 won on the Seoul Foreign Exchange Market, 15-point-3 won lower than Monday's market close. Later in the day, the gap widened to end at around 1-thousand-3-hundred-60 won—down 24-point-1 won from Monday's close at 3:30 PM. Global oil prices sharply fell to pre-war levels following reports of a temporary ceasefire. Brent Crude oil, which once traded above 81 U.S. dollars on Monday, is trading below 70 dollars as of Tuesday, which is an over 12-percent decrease in just a day. As South Korea is heavily dependent on oil imports, the changes in oil prices could affect the country's economy in various ways. "Korea imports almost 100 percent of its crude oil. When oil prices rise, it directly impacts the petrochemical industry, which uses oil as a raw material. But many other sectors are also tied to oil prices. Higher oil costs increase import prices and make exports more difficult." South Korean officials on Monday held an inter-agency meeting to crack down on unfair oil price surges and monitor financial markets to swiftly address any difficulties that may arise. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

South Korean stocks show strong increase following easing of tensions in Middle East

2025/06/24 19:35

Also in related news. The local bourse responded favorably to Mr. Trump's claim of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. In fact the benchmark KOSPI broke past the 3-thousand-100 mark. Our correspondent Park Jun-han has more. South Korea's stock market rallied with strong momentum on Tuesday, with potential reports indicating a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI, for the first time in three years and nine months, surpassed 31-hundred points and closed with over 3-thousand-1-hundred-3 points, up 2-point-96 percent from Monday's close. Also, South Korea's tech-heavy KOSDAQ closed beyond 800 points for the first time in 11 months. "With oil prices falling and the U.S. dollar weakening again, foreign demand for South Korean stocks picked up, leading to strong buying. This helped the KOSPI break through the 31-hundred mark during intraday trading." Among stocks that showed a strong increase on Tuesday were some of the country's tech giants, SK hynix and Samsung Electronics. SK hynix once again broke its all-time high, surpassing the 280-thousand won mark, while Samsung Electronics rebounded to the 60-thousand won level during the day. The won's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar fell as tensions deescalated. The rate opened at 1-thousand-3-hundred-69 won on the Seoul Foreign Exchange Market, 15-point-3 won lower than Monday's market close. Later in the day, the gap widened to end at around 1-thousand-3-hundred-60 won—down 24-point-1 won from Monday's close at 3:30 PM. Global oil prices sharply fell to pre-war levels following reports of a temporary ceasefire. Brent Crude oil, which once traded above 81 U.S. dollars on Monday, is trading below 70 dollars as of Tuesday, which is an over 12-percent decrease in just a day. As South Korea is heavily dependent on oil imports, the changes in oil prices could affect the country's economy in various ways. "Korea imports almost 100 percent of its crude oil. When oil prices rise, it directly impacts the petrochemical industry, which uses oil as a raw material. But many other sectors are also tied to oil prices. Higher oil costs increase import prices and make exports more difficult." South Korean officials on Monday held an inter-agency meeting to crack down on unfair oil price surges and monitor financial markets to swiftly address any difficulties that may arise. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Oil settles down 7.2% after Iran attacks U.S. military base in Qatar

2025/06/24 11:34

Global oil prices settled down more than seven percent on Monday, after Iran took no action to disrupt oil and gas tanker routes in the Strait of Hormuz,.. but instead attacked a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for Washington's attack on its nuclear sites. Both the Brent crude futures and the U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for August, fell around 7-point-2 percent. Brent crude futures are trading at 71 dollars 48 cents a barrel, while the WTI futures are trading at 68 dollars and 51 cents a barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday took to his social media platform to demand that "everyone" keep oil prices down. He said that raising oil prices would mean playing "into the hands of the enemy."

June consumer sentiment hits 4-year high on second extra budget, policy optimism

2025/06/24 11:24

Consumer sentiment in South Korea continued to improve in June, marking a third straight month of gains. According to the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the Composite Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 108-point-7, up 6-point-9 points from May. That's the highest level in four years since June 2021. The central bank attributed the rise to reduced political uncertainty, the second extra budget, and expectations for new government policies. Housing market expectations also climbed sharply. The housing price outlook index jumped 9 points to 120, as more people anticipate house prices to rise over the next year, the highest since October 2021. A reading above 100 on both indices indicates optimism.

Stock

2025/06/24 00:31

2025. 6. 23. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,014.47 ▼-7.37 -0.24% KOSDAQ : 784.79 ▼-6.74 -0.85% KOSPI200 : 404.32 ▼-1.00 -0.25% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,354.09 ▼49.14 -0.13% HANG SENG : 23,689.13 ▲158.65 +0.67% SHANGHAI : 3,381.58 ▲21.68 +0.65% WALL STREET (June 20) DOW JONES : 42,206.82 ▲35.16 +0.08% NASDAQ : 19,447.41 ▼98.86 -0.51% S&P500 : 5,967.84 ▼13.03 -0.22% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,384.30 (+18.70) JPY : 939.43 (+0.13) CNY : 192.64 (+2.51) EUR : 1,593.19 (+20.02)