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Kospi opens lower amid uncertainties

Published: 19 Aug. 2025, 09:53

A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the Kospi opening on Aug. 19. [YONHAP]

Shares opened slightly lower Tuesday as investors remained cautious amid ongoing global uncertainties.

The benchmark Kospi shed 7.38 points, or 0.23 percent, to 3,169.9 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed as investor sentiment was dampened by concerns over potential new U.S. tariffs on semiconductor imports. Market participants also remained cautious ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's upcoming Jackson Hole economic policy symposium.

In Seoul, top-cap shares traded mixed.

Chip giant Samsung Electronics went up 0.29 percent, and its rival SK hynix increased 0.28 percent. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution inched up 0.13 percent.

Carmakers opened mixed. Top automaker Hyundai Motor went down 0.35 percent, while its sister Kia remained unchanged.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace shed 1.46 percent, and leading financial firm KB Financial inched down 0.09 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,388.55 won against the greenback at 9:15 a.m., up 0.26 percent from the previous session's 3:30 p.m. quote of 1,385 won.

Yonhap