The benchmark KOSPI slipped back to around 6,800 on Tuesday, erasing gains from the previous session as renewed military clashes between the US and Iran dampened risk appetite and pushed oil prices higher. The escalation stoked fears of a resurgence in inflationary pressures and the prospect of tighter global monetary policy, while overnight losses on Wall Street further weighed on Korean equities.
Major decliners included Samsung Electronics (-0.3%), Hyundai Motor (-1.1%), Hanwha Aerospace (-3.3%), KB Financial Group (-1.4%), and Doosan Enerbility (-1.8%).
On the positive side, robust trade data helped underpin the broader market outlook. South Korea’s exports surged 68.7% year-on-year to $98.25 billion in August, extending their winning streak to a 15th consecutive month. Semiconductor shipments soared 209% to $46.65 billion, supported by sustained AI infrastructure investment by leading global technology firms, bolstering expectations for strong earnings at Korea’s major chipmakers.
