South Korean shares slide over 2% as US-China trade tensions resurface

SEOUL: Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

• South Korea’s shares fell more than 2% on Monday, weighed down by renewed trade tensions between the United States and China, the country’s two largest trading partners, which reignited concerns over global economic stability.

• The benchmark KOSPI was down 40.87 points, or 1.13%, at 3,569.73, as of 0114 GMT, after having dropped 2.44% earlier in the session.

• US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to introduce high tariffs against China, a move that added to investor concerns after Beijing announced measures to tighten control its critical mineral exports.

• Trump later struck a more reassuring tone, saying “everything would be fine.”

• US stock futures climbed more than 1% during Asian hours on Monday, rebounding after a sharp selloff on Friday. ** South Korea’s exports in the first 10 days of this month fell 15.2% from year-ago levels, according to data.

• Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 2.12% and peer SK Hynix lost 3.74%, dragging the benchmark index lower, after a recent rally surrounding optimism over artificial intelligence tools.

• Samsung Electronics is expected to post its highest third-quarter profit since 2022, driven by higher memory chip prices supported by server demand as customers rebuild inventories, analysts’ estimates showed.

• LG Energy Solution climbed 0.97% after the battery maker estimated a jump in profit.

• Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 0.23% and 0.80%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 2.66%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics rose 0.10%.

• Of the total 930 traded issues, 235 shares advanced, while 653 declined.

• Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 432.8 billion won ($303.36 million). ** The won was steady at 1,427.0 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform.

• The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 1.7 basis points to 2.569%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 2.7 basis points to 2.931%.