IMF flags structural FX fragility in Korea, citing shallow market and equity-heavy exposure SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange vulnerability has drawn renewed scrutiny from the International Monetary Fund, not because of short-term external debt — the trigger during the late-1990s liquidity crisis — but due to the country’s unusually large foreign equity exposure relative to the depth of its FX market. According to an IMF assessment released Sunday, South Korea’s foreign-exposed assets amount to roughly 25 times its ave January 19, 2026

Hot Stock: Robotics emerge as retail favorite as U.S. tariff risks weigh on chip heavyweights SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Shares of robotics and automation companies surged Monday as investor funds rotated out of semiconductor stocks and into so-called “physical AI” plays, amid renewed uncertainty over U.S. semiconductor trade policy. Hyundai Motor jumped 12.5 percent to 465,000 won ($315.3), while Doosan Robotics soared 20.13 percent to 108,600 won, sharply outperforming the broader market as sentiment toward chipmakers weakened on tariff concerns. The shift January 19, 2026

KOSPI bucks global stock weakness on robotics-led rally SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) — Asian stock markets opened the week on a weaker footing amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, as tensions flared between the European Union and the United States over Greenland. South Korean stocks, however, moved against the regional trend, buoyed by strong gains in robotics-related shares. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 4,829.40, down 0.23 percent from the previous close, but quickly reversed course. As of 11:10 a.m., the index was up 0.9 percent a January 19, 2026

KOSPI stretches rally to 11 sessions, with gains now eclipsing past cycles SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their historic advance on Friday, pushing the KOSPI up for an 11th consecutive session and underscoring a rally that has grown not only longer, but materially stronger than previous market upswings. The benchmark index rose 0.9 percent to close at 4,840.7, marking a 13.8 percent gain since Jan.2 as the market continued to notch new highs with near-daily regularity entering the new year. The KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 954.6, w January 16, 2026

East Asian rate decoupling: A tale of four economies SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - East Asia is no longer a monolith but a disparate economic powerhouse that accounts for roughly a quarter of global GDP and a third of world trade. For years, the combined output of its leading quartet—China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan—has surpassed that of the euro zone, underpinned by an export engine that remains the envy of the West. Beneath this shared headline strength, however, a deep monetary divergence is taking hold. Nowhere is th January 16, 2026

KOSPI soars above 4,800 for first time while Nikkei tumbles SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Asian stock markets opened mixed in early trading on Friday, with South Korea's KOSPI hitting a fresh record high, while Japanese shares retreated on profit-taking. In Seoul, the benchmark index rose 0.95 percent to 4,841.81, surpassing the 4,800 level for the first time on record, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ lagged, slipping 0.43 percent to 947.06 shortly after the day's trading began. Strong U.S. labor data kept the dollar firm, pushing the exc January 16, 2026

Seoul market hits new high despite rate pause as regional peers falter SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Korean stocks surged to fresh highs on Thursday, extending a 10-session winning streak, even as most other Asian markets finished mixed amid cautious regional sentiment. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 1.58 percent to close at 4,797.6, edging closer to the symbolic 5,000-point mark. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 1.0 percent to 951.2. The rally was led by heavyweight technology and auto shares. Samsung Electronics climbed 2.6 percent to 143,900 won, January 15, 2026

BOK stays pat and signals end to rate cuts amid prolonged won weakness SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) — The Bank of Korea’s decision to hold its policy rate at 2.5 percent on Thursday came with an unusual backdrop: a rare public intervention by the U.S. Treasury secretary and a detailed defense by a deputy governor, highlighting how Korean won's fragility has become central in both fiscal and monetary policy calculus. The central bank unanimously voted to keep the benchmark rate unchanged at its first rate-setting meeting of the year, extend January 15, 2026

Asian markets mixed; Nikkei retreats after record rally, KOSPI holds ground SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) — Asian equity markets were mixed on Wednesday, with Japanese stocks pulling back after a powerful start to the year, while Seoul shares held firm despite a more hawkish tilt from the Bank of Korea. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.77 percent to 53,923.94 as of 10:23 a.m. local time, as investors locked in profits following an uninterrupted January rally. The recent surge had been fueled by expectations of a snap election that could reinforce Prime Min January 15, 2026

BOK stays pat for eighth month as weak won and high debt constrain policy SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on Thursday, extending its policy pause to an eighth consecutive month as policymakers remain constrained by a weak currency, elevated household debt and divergent inflation pressures. At its first rate-setting meeting of 2026, the central bank decided to hold the base rate steady, unchanged since a 25-basis-point cut in May last year. The decision reflects what officials ha January 15, 2026