KOSPI suffers Asia's worst hit on AI slowdown fears, surging oil prices SEOUL, Sept. 14 (AJP) - A push to slow down artificial intelligence (AI) development and oil prices climbing above US$108 a barrel both landed on South Korea's market at once, leaving it with little room to guard against either. South Korea's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index or KOSPI closed down 3.3 percent or 225.54 points to close at 6,684. 37, the biggest drop in the region. Tokyo fell 0.8 percent and Shanghai finished close to flat, a gap that comes down to concentration September 14, 2026

Korea's bond offering draws 2.5 times bigger bids despite rising yields SEOUL, Sept. 14 (AJP) — South Korea's 10-year government bond offering drew bids worth nearly 2.5 times the amount on offer despite yields hovering near multi-year highs. Bids totaled 6.928 trillion won for 2.8 trillion won ($2.1 billion) of 10-year government bonds offered, equivalent to 247.4 percent of the planned sale, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The offering was sold at a weighted average yield of 4.510 percent, slightly below the benchmark 10-year governme September 14, 2026

KOSPI leads Asia lower as AI slowdown debate hits memory stocks SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) -Asian stocks opened the week lower Monday, with South Korea's KOSPI falling more than 3 percent as a widening debate over slowing AI development hit its memory-chip heavyweights. The KOSPI opened 3.1 percent lower and traded as low as 6,669.3. The benchmark was down 210.7 points at 6,699.2 in morning trading. SK hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, fell 5.0 percent to 1,721,000 won ($1,279). Samsung Electronics dropped 3.0 percent to 251,750 wo September 14, 2026

KOSPI closes below 7,000 as foreign selloff outweighs chip exports SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korean stocks fell nearly 2 percent on Friday as concerns over oil prices and interest rates led to heavy foreign selling, outweighing strong semiconductor exports. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,909.91, down 1.76 percent from the previous session. The index opened 3.29 percent lower at 6,802.50 before recovering part of its losses in afternoon trading. Foreign investors sold a net 2.29 trillion won (US$1.70 billion) of KOSPI shares, while institutions unload September 11, 2026

Korean 3-yr yield tops 4% for first time since 2023 SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) — South Korea's three-year government bond yield closed above 4 percent Friday for the first time in nearly three years, while the won weakened as oil-driven inflation fears sent global yields sharply higher. The three-year Korean government bond yield jumped 8.8 basis points to 4.018 percent, crossing the 4 percent threshold for the first time since Nov. 1, 2023. The yield had last closed above the level at 4.071 percent on Nov. 1, 2023, before falling to 3 September 11, 2026

Seoul and Tokyo retreat nearly 3% on oil price and Treasury jitters SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) – Seoul and Tokyo stocks lost ground on soaring oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields on renewed Gulf tensions. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 6,847.74 as of 10:30 a.m., down 2.63percent from the previous session. The Nikkei 255 was also down 2.66 percent to 63,554.48. The KOSPI opened more than 3 percent lower at 6,802.50 before paring some of its losses in early trading as retail investors stepped in to buy shares. Retail investors bought a net 1.32 trillion wo September 11, 2026

BOK tests AI agents for economic statistics SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) — The Bank of Korea is testing artificial intelligence agents to interpret statistical changes and simulate policy judgments as it explores wider AI use in South Korea's official economic statistics. The Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Korean Statistical Society opened a joint forum Friday to discuss how artificial intelligence, machine learning and new data techniques can improve the accuracy and timeliness of economic statistics. BOK Senior Deputy Governor Kwo September 11, 2026

KOSPI defends 7,000 despite foreign selloff SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) -- South Korean stocks recovered from steep early losses on Thursday, with the KOSPI holding above 7,000 despite heavy foreign selling and elevated oil prices, while the KOSDAQ turned higher on institutional buying and semiconductor gains. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.25 percent or 17.72 points to close at 7,033.92. The index dropped as low as 6,898.45 in morning trading, briefly losing the 6,900 level, before recovering more than 130 points from its intraday low. It rea September 10, 2026

Kia to unveil PBV at Germany's IAA SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Kia will unveil its large electric purpose-built vehicle (PBV) at this year's IAA Transportation, which kicks off in Germany next week. The automaker said Thursday that it will showcase the PV7 for the first time during the biennial trade show, which runs from Sept. 15 to 20 in Hanover, marking its second appearance since announcing plans to enter Europe's PBV market in 2024. Kia will display three variants of the PV7 at its 1,531-square-meter booth, along w September 10, 2026

KOSPI tops 7,000 as fiber trade lifts Seoul and Tokyo SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - A fiber-optic supply contract signed in the United States reshaped trading across Northeast Asia on Wednesday, lifting cable and wire makers in both Seoul and Tokyo. The rally carried South Korea's benchmark KOSPI to its first close above 7,000 since July 23. The KOSPI rose 97.12 points to 7,051.64, a gain of 1.4 percent. The KOSDAQ, South Korea's secondary board for smaller and technology-focused companies, climbed 18.49 points to 830.37, up 2.3 percent. September 9, 2026