Leverage handover arrives even as KOSPI party goes on SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea's stock market is hot, volatile and increasingly dependent on borrowed momentum. Government-approved leveraged exchange-traded funds have added another layer of risk, producing side effects within weeks of their launch and prompting an unusual public mea culpa from regulators. Single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which allow investors to bet on twice the daily movement of the shares, plunged 24 to 25 percent d June 24, 2026

Korea's migration to developed status rejected and the won is why SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - The stock market rebounded, but the Korean won slipped deeper toward crisis-era lows after South Korea once again failed to make MSCI's developed-market watchlist, a sober reminder that the currency - not the equities - is the stumbling block to an upgrade. The KOSPI has quadrupled over the past 18 months to become one of the world's best-performing equity markets since 2025, but its rally alone was not enough. For years, Seoul has tried to secu June 24, 2026

KOSPI rebounds day after record crash SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI rebounded 3.3 percent to close at 8,471.02 on Wednesday, standing apart from a mixed regional session a day after its record crash. The index rose 267.18 points, recovering less than a third of the 910.71 points it lost on Tuesday. The junior KOSDAQ gained 2.0 percent to 909.31. Samsung Electronics powered the bounce, jumping 9.8 percent after it was reported to be mulling a record buyback of $65 billion buyback scheme, while June 24, 2026

KOSPI snaps back from record crash SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - The KOSPI snapped back at Wednesday's open, following a script Korean investors have come to expect, the market's worst one-day crashes are almost always met by a rebound, as retail buyers piled in even while foreign and institutional investors kept selling. The benchmark rose 3.5 percent, recovering roughly a third of the 910.71 points it lost in Tuesday's record plunge. Samsung Electronics led, jumping 7.4 percent to 333,000 won ($217), whi June 24, 2026

Korea fails to make MSCI's developed-market watchlist, KRW cited SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea was passed over once more in MSCI's annual market classification, denied even a place on the watchlist that marks the first step toward a developed-market upgrade, with the index provider again pointing to the local currency. In results released June 23 in New York, MSCI kept Korea in its emerging-market index alongside China and India, offering only continued monitoring of Seoul's reform drive. It advanced Bulgaria and reaffirmed Greece&# June 24, 2026

Korea's new obsession: borrowing to buy stocks, not homes SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - South Korea's stock craze has reached a point where borrowing to buy shares is becoming more socially acceptable than borrowing to buy an apartment. The shift reflects a profound change in a country long defined by its obsession with real estate, as millions of Koreans pour into a handful of AI-related stocks in pursuit of rapid wealth creation. Tuesday's selloff offered a reminder of how fragile that enthusiasm can be. The benchmark KOSPI cras June 23, 2026

Won weakens on Fed jitters, bond yields fall as safety bid offsets FX pressure SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - The Korean won weakened against the dollar on Monday as the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance kept pressure on Asian currencies, while government bond yields fell as a sharp stock selloff pushed investors toward safer assets. The won ended the daytime session in Seoul at 1,538.90 per dollar, weakening by 1.90 won from the previous session. The currency came under pressure as investors reassessed the Fed’s policy path after its June meeting delive June 23, 2026

Central banks recalibrate post-rate messaging SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - The dot plot, long one of the U.S. Federal Reserve's most influential communication tools, is undergoing a rethink just as South Korea's central bank is embracing it, highlighting a broader dilemma confronting policymakers worldwide: how to guide markets without locking themselves into a path they may later regret. The divergence underscores a new reality for central banks. Inflation, exchange rates and interest-rate expectations have become harder to June 23, 2026

KOSPI crashes nearly 10 percent amid broad Asian retreat SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI crashed nearly 10 percent, far outpacing declines in Japan and China as investors rushed to unwind positions after record-setting streaks. The KOSPI fell 9.99 percent or record 910.71 points to 8,203.84, instantly wiping out gains of last seven trading sessions. The junior KOSDAQ plunged 7.94 percent to 891.52. Foreign and local institutions offloaded more than 4 trillion won worth on the KOSPI while retailers scooped the June 23, 2026

SpaceX slide painfully watched by Korean retailers holding nearly $2 billion SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) — SpaceX has become an instant favorite among South Korean retail investors, who have poured nearly $2 billion into the stock since its June 12 Nasdaq debut, only to see the trade quickly turn painful as the initial heat surrounding Elon Musk's rocket rapidly cools. According to data from the Korea Securities Depository on Tuesday, Korean investors purchased a net $1.95 billion worth of SpaceX Class A shares between June 12 and June 19. The buying sp June 23, 2026