KOSPI Falls as Financials Weigh

The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.55% to around 3,174 on Friday, giving back gains from the previous session, as losses in financial stocks and ongoing trade-related caution weighed on the index. Market anxiety persisted amid uncertainty over South Korea’s efforts to secure favorable terms ahead of the looming US tariff deadline. In the corporate sector, financials dropped nearly 2%, led by sharp losses in Shinhan Financial Group (-2.15%), KB Financial Group (-1.39%), and Hana Financial Group (-0.76%). Other sectors also faced pressure, including consumer non-durables, industrial services, and transportation, such as KT&G Corporation (-0.92%), Samsung C&T Corporation (-5.53%), and Hyundai Merc Mar (-1.78%). On the corporate front, South Korea’s EV exports jumped 11.2% year-on-year to $780 million in June, marking the first annual increase in 16 months. Over the week, the benchmark index is poised for little change after a 4% gain last week.