Seoul: South Korean stocks traded a tad higher late Monday morning amid uncertainties stemming from the Donald Trump administration's sweeping tariff campaign. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 5.97 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,489.39 as of 11:20 a.m. The index opened slightly higher but momentum remained weak, as investors focus on tariff negotiations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul government plans to initiate tariff negotiations later this week in Washington. South Korea was subjected to 25 percent reciprocal tariffs, though the United States paused its implementation for 90 days. Acting President Han Duck-soo acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that the upcoming talks "would not be easy," while committing to efforts aimed at finding "a mutually beneficial solution."
Major shares showed mixed results during this period. Tech giant Samsung Electronics saw an increase of 0.36 percent, and its chip competitor SK hynix surged by 1.83 percent. Meanwhile, top biotech firm Samsung Biologics experienced a jump of 2.86 percent, whereas leading battery maker LG Energy Solution saw a decline of 0.3 percent.
In the automotive sector, Hyundai Motor added 0.27 percent, and its sister company Kia grew by 0.8 percent. In contrast, No. 1 portal operator Naver advanced by 0.75 percent, while leading steelmaker POSCO Holdings decreased by 0.79 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,419.05 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., marking an increase of 4.25 won from the previous session.