FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Hit Near 2-Month Low

The KOSPI index recorded a 2.4% decrease, settling at approximately 2,496 points early on Monday, marking its lowest level in nearly two months. This downturn was felt across all sectors as investor anxiety intensified over the anticipation of Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which stirred concerns about a potential global economic slowdown due to likely retaliatory measures from significant trading partners. Concurrently, South Korea has fully rescinded its five-year ban on short-selling, a move previously criticized for limiting foreign investment as the nation aims for developed market status. On a positive note, retail sales increased by 1.5% from the previous month in February, and industrial production showed a recovery, particularly with robust growth in electronic components and electrical equipment. In the stock market, key players in the battery sector were the most affected, with LG Energy Solution suffering a 5.6% drop and Samsung SDI declining by 4.3%. Additionally, companies in the chipmaking, automotive, and e-commerce industries experienced downturns of over 2%.