FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Slide on Profit-Taking

The KOSPI index experienced a decline of 0.77%, settling at approximately 4,951 following a streak of record highs, as investors opted to lock in profits. Performance among major companies was varied, with SK Hynix (-2.48%), Hyundai Motor (-1.18%), Kia Corp (-1.89%), and Doosan Enerbility (-1.07%) seeing significant downtrends. In contrast, Samsung Electronics (+0.79%), LG Energy Solution (+1.09%), and Hanwha Aerospace (+1.91%) registered gains. Market sentiment remained cautious leading up to the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on January 27–28, with investors keenly observing any indications regarding US interest rate movements. Additionally, corporate earnings reports significantly influenced investor sentiment, drawing attention to major firms' fourth-quarter performances. Notably, Samsung Electronics buoyed the market, announcing record sales of 93 trillion won and an operating profit of 20 trillion won—a remarkable 200% increase from the previous year—attributable to a buoyant semiconductor market and robust demand for AI-related memory chips.