Korea spearheads Asia rebound as crude falls below $90 SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) -South Korean stocks posted the strongest advance in Asia on Tuesday, reversing course after leading the region’s losses a day earlier as oil prices retreated sharply from above $100 a barrel and eased fears of a prolonged energy shock from the Middle East conflict. Korea’s benchmark KOSPI closed up 5.35 percent at 5,532.6, recouping much of Monday’s nearly 6 percent drop triggered by the surge in crude prices. The rally gathered momentum March 10, 2026

KOSPI recovers to 5,500 as Asian stocks rebound on easing oil fears SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Asian stock markets rebounded on Tuesday as oil prices retreated after U.S. President Donald Trump said the conflict in the Middle East is "going to be ended soon," while G7 ministers hinted at a possible release of strategic oil reserves to ease surging prices. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI rebounded to the 5,500 level just a day after a sharp selloff, as investor sentiment improved following Trump's remarks as well as a drop in global oil March 10, 2026

KOSPI swings back up 5% on easing oil prices and Trump comment on war SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) — South Korean shares swung back as sharply as their fall, riding on a rapid retreat in oil prices after the U.S. president vowed the fighting in the Middle East could be “ended soon” and G7 ministers scrambled to take concerted action to ease prices through a possible release of strategic reserves. A sidecar was issued as soon as the opening bell on Tuesday, but unlike the previous morning it was triggered to cool buy-side momentum as both March 10, 2026

Coupang investors withdraw U.S. trade probe petition as Seoul shifts toward arbitration SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - U.S. investment firms backing Coupang Inc. have withdrawn their request for a U.S. trade investigation into South Korea’s treatment of the e-commerce company, as the dispute shifts toward an investment arbitration case under the Korea–U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Greenoaks and Altimeter said Monday they had withdrawn a petition filed under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act, which had asked the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR March 10, 2026

Korea and India beef up institutional financing to prepare for expanding business ties SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Institutional financing links between South Korea and India are gaining traction as the world's most populous nation accelerates economic expansion and seeks advanced manufacturing capabilities in sectors ranging from small modular nuclear reactors to defense and shipbuilding. A closed-door investor relations conference jointly hosted by SK Securities and India's ICICI Group in Seoul on Monday underscored the growing momentum. The event drew major Kor March 9, 2026

S&P Global inspectors arrive in Seoul to conduct annual review SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - American credit rating agency S&P Global is set to conduct its annual review of South Korea's sovereign credit rating. A delegation led by Kim Eng Tan and Andrew Wood, executive directors responsible for the agency's Asia Pacific region, arrived in Seoul on Monday for a three-day consultation ahead of the upcoming review, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said. They are scheduled to talk with key financial and economic officials including thos March 9, 2026

Asian stocks tumble as oil surge rattles markets; Korea triggers circuit breaker SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Asian stock markets fell sharply Monday as surging oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered a broad risk selloff across the region, with Korea and Japan among the hardest hit. Korea’s benchmark KOSPI closed at 5,251.9, down 6 percent, after plunging more than 8 percent throughout the trading session and briefly falling to 5,096.2. The sharp drop triggered a Level-1 circuit breaker, temporarily halting trading for 20 minutes. March 9, 2026

Black Monday exposes vulnerabilities of external-reliant Korean economy SEOUL, Mar 09 (AJP) - The Black Monday bombshell in South Korean capital markets has once again laid bare the vulnerabilities of the country’s external-reliant economy, now facing the dreaded triple highs of oil prices, the dollar and interest rates — a classic recipe for stagflation. Crude prices touched above $110 per barrel for the first time since the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, marking one of the fastest climbs since the oil crises March 9, 2026

Black Monday hits Asia on oil price surge; Korean won and bonds also crash SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) — Asian stock markets plunged Monday as fears of a prolonged blockade of the Middle East’s key oil shipping route sent crude prices above $100 a barrel, triggering a broad risk-off selloff across the region. South Korean and Japanese shares suffered the steepest losses in early trading as the prospect of disruptions to energy supplies bound for Asia rattled investors. The benchmark KOSPI dropped as much as 8 percent, retreating to the 5,100 leve March 9, 2026

Seoul issues verbal intervention as won hits lowest since global financial crisis SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - South Korean authorities issued a verbal intervention Monday as the won weakened to its lowest level since the global financial crisis, with officials warning they would take “appropriate” measures to stabilize financial markets. “The bond yields and the won-dollar exchange rate are showing excessive volatility compared with Korea’s economic fundamentals due to Middle East risks,” Bank of Korea Senior Deputy Governor Yoo Sang-dai March 9, 2026