Why did Seoul shares fall late Thursday morning?

Investors were concerned that elevated oil prices would intensify inflationary pressures. Sentiment was also weakened by overnight declines on Wall Street and the possibility that the U.S. Federal Reserve may raise interest rates this year.

Which Korean stocks rose and fell during the late-morning trading session?

Samsung Electronics fell 0.56 percent, Hyundai Motor declined 3.05 percent, Hanwha Aerospace dropped 5.86 percent and HMM lost 2.57 percent. SK hynix gained 1.33 percent and Samsung SDI advanced 3.74 percent.

How did different investor groups trade on the Seoul stock market?

Institutions sold a net 457.28 billion won in stocks, while foreign investors sold 666.37 billion won. Individual investors took the opposite position, buying a net 834.66 billion won.

Seoul shares extend losses late Thursday morning amid inflation worries

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Summary

Seoul shares extended losses in Seoul late Thursday morning as elevated oil prices fueled inflation concerns and Wall Street fell overnight. The KOSPI dropped 54.22 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,749.68 as of 11:20 a.m. Institutions and foreigners sold stocks, while individuals bought them. The Korean won strengthened to 1,337.35 won against the U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.66 percent and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.22 percent overnight.
Institutions sold a net 457.28 billion won and foreigners sold 666.37 billion won worth of stocks, while individuals bought a net 834.66 billion won.
Hyundai Motor fell 3.05 percent, Hanwha Aerospace declined 5.86 percent and HMM shed 2.57 percent.
SK hynix rose 1.33 percent and Samsung SDI climbed 3.74 percent.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has signaled it may need to raise rates this year to curb inflation.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 8, 2026 9:29 am KST
Updated Oct 8, 2026 11:55 am KST

A stock ticker at Hana Bank headquarters in central Seoul shows the won-dollar exchange rate and the benchmark KOSPI, Thursday. Yonhap

Seoul shares extended losses late Thursday morning, tracking Wall Street's downturn, as elevated oil prices stoked inflation concerns.

After opening 0.07 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) backtracked almost immediately, trading down 54.22 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,749.68 as of 11:20 a.m.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.66 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.22 percent.

Institutions and foreigners sold a net 457.28 billion won ($342 million) and 666.37 billion won worth of stocks, while individuals bought a net 834.66 billion won.

Overall investors seemed wary as higher oil prices are adding to inflationary pressures, and the U.S. Federal Reserve has signaled it may need to raise rates this year to tame inflation.

In Seoul, large-cap stocks were mixed.

Market behemoth Samsung Electronics fell 0.56 percent, and top carmaker Hyundai Motor declined 3.05 percent.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dropped 5.86 percent, and shipping firm HMM shed 2.57 percent.

Among gainers, chip giant SK hynix rose 1.33 percent, and battery maker Samsung SDI climbed 3.74 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,337.35 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.65 won from the previous stock trading session's close.

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