Why were Seoul stocks falling late Friday morning despite gains on Wall Street?

Investors dumped tech heavyweights ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting, even after U.S. stocks closed higher overnight on Nvidia-led gains and advances in other AI-related shares. Retail investors and foreigners also turned net sellers.

How did Samsung Electronics and SK hynix perform in the Seoul market on Friday morning?

Samsung Electronics fell 1.97 percent and SK hynix dropped 1.21 percent as of 11:20 a.m. Their declines weighed on the broader market because they are top-cap tech stocks.

What were the KOSPI and won trading levels late Friday morning?

The benchmark KOSPI was at 6,856.71, down 55.66 points, or 0.81 percent, at 11:20 a.m. The Korean won was quoted at 1,378.3 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.2 won from the previous session.

Seoul stocks down late Friday morning despite tech rally on Wall Street

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Summary

Seoul stocks were trading lower late Friday morning as investors sold tech heavyweights ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting. The KOSPI fell 55.66 points, or 0.81 percent, to 6,856.71 at 11:20 a.m. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both declined, while Hyundai Motor, KB Financial and Doosan Enerbility rose. The Korean won strengthened to 1,378.3 won against the U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

The KOSPI was down 55.66 points, or 0.81 percent, to 6,856.71 as of 11:20 a.m.
Retail investors and foreigners were net sellers in the Seoul stock market.
Samsung Electronics fell 1.97 percent and SK hynix shed 1.21 percent.
The Korean won was quoted at 1,378.3 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.2 won from the previous stock trading session.
Investors were watching what Fed Chair Kevin Warsh would say in the Jackson Hole Symposium later in the day for clues on the central bank's next policy direction.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 28, 2026 9:13 am KST
Updated Aug 28, 2026 11:53 am KST

Financial data is displayed at the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Seoul stocks were trading lower late Friday morning, despite an overnight advances on Wall Street, as investors dumped tech heavyweights ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was trading down 55.66 points, or 0.81 percent, to 6,856.71 as of 11:20 a.m., as retail investors and foreigners became net sellers.

U.S. stocks closed higher overnight, lifted by forecast-beating earnings from Nvidia and advances in other artificial intelligence (AI)-related shares.

Investors are closely following what Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, will say in the Jackson Hole Symposium later in day, for cues on the central bank's next policy direction.

Market top-cap Samsung Electronics was down 1.97 percent, along with industry rival SK hynix, which shed 1.21 percent.

Among the gainers was Hyundai Motor which inched up 0.38 percent, major financial firm KB Financial, which added 0.65 percent, and nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility, which rose 1.22 percent.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,378.3 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 3.2 won from the previous stock trading session.

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