23.10.202501:57:43UTC+00KOSPI Retreats After Record High on Profit-Taking, Policy Pause

The KOSPI index experienced a decline of 0.22%, settling at approximately 3,875 on Thursday. This downturn ended a six-day upward streak and marked a retreat from a recent peak, as investors cashed in on gains amid Wall Street's overnight downturn. Key stocks such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and Doosan Enerbility saw decreases of 1.42%, 0.52%, 1.15%, and 3.04%, respectively. The market remained cautious due to ongoing trade discussions between South Korea and the United States, which have yet to reach full resolution. South Korea’s Presidential Director of National Policy, Kim Yong-beom, indicated on Wednesday that talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were making progress but had not yet reached completion. Kim mentioned that while most issues were nearly resolved, a few concerns still remained. On the monetary front, the central bank maintained its interest rate at 2.50%, citing a resurgence in housing prices and persistent weakness in the won, which halted any further easing for the time being.