Why were Seoul shares under pressure on Thursday morning?

Investors were weighing persistent pressure from elevated U.S. Treasury yields and rising oil prices. Overnight, cooler-than-expected inflation data was offset by those same yield and energy concerns.

How did the KOSPI and won move by late Thursday morning in Seoul?

The KOSPI inched up 2.88 points, or 0.04 percent, to 6,804.92 as of 11:20 a.m. The won was trading at 1,360.1 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.4 won from the previous session’s close.

Which major Korean stocks were mixed in late-morning trading?

Samsung Electronics rose 0.09 percent and SK hynix gained 0.34 percent after opening lower. SK Square fell 2.02 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics slipped 0.07 percent.

Seoul shares narrow losses late Thursday morning amid inflation woes

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Summary

Seoul shares narrowed losses late Thursday morning as investors weighed persistent pressure from elevated U.S. Treasury yields and rising oil prices. The KOSPI was up 2.88 points, or 0.04 percent, at 6,804.92 as of 11:20 a.m. The Korean won was trading at 1,360.1 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.4 won from the previous session’s close. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix traded higher, while SK Square and Samsung Electro-Mechanics fell.

Key Facts

The KOSPI had opened 0.34 percent lower before recovering to 6,804.92 at 11:20 a.m.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.86 percent and the S&P 500 lost 0.25 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.24 percent.
Samsung Electronics rose 0.09 percent and SK hynix gained 0.34 percent after opening lower.
SK Square declined 2.02 percent and Samsung Electro-Mechanics edged down 0.07 percent.
The Korean won stood at 1,360.1 won per U.S. dollar, down 4.4 won from the previous session’s close.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 1, 2026 9:32 am KST
Updated Oct 1, 2026 11:52 am KST

Financial data is displayed on a screen at Hana Bank's dealing room, central Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Seoul shares narrowed losses late Thursday morning as investors digested a series of negative factors, including persistent pressure from elevated U.S. Treasury yields.

After opening 0.34 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 2.88 points, or 0.04 percent, to 6,804.92 as of 11:20 a.m.

Overnight, Wall Street ended mixed as cooler-than-expected inflation data was offset by persistent pressure from elevated U.S. Treasury yields and rising oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.86 percent, while the benchmark S&P 500 dipped 0.25 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.24 percent.

In Seoul, market heavyweights were trading mixed.

Top market cap Samsung Electronics inched up 0.09 percent, and chip giant SK hynix gained 0.34 percent after opening lower.

SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, declined 2.02 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, inched down 0.07 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,360.1 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 4.4 won from the previous session's close.

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