KOSPI retreats as investors turn cautious ahead of Fed chair's rate clues

South Korean stocks experienced a decline on Friday for the first time in four consecutive sessions, as foreign investors led the selling pressure and cautious investors entered the market ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's keynote speech at the central bank's Jackson Hole symposium. The speech, scheduled for 10 a.m. local time, is garnering significant attention as market participants await clues about the central bank's future actions and the potential triggers for an interest rate adjustment.

While past Federal Reserve chairs have leveraged the annual gathering in Wyoming to hint at broader shifts in monetary policy, the extent of guidance Warsh will provide during his maiden major address remains uncertain. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 6,846.54, slipping 0.95 percent from the previous session, and remained in the red throughout the trading day.

The index closed at 6,788.88, marking a 1.79 percent decline. Foreign investors were the primary sellers, offloading a net 1.76 trillion won ($1.28 billion) worth of shares, while institutional investors also contributed to the sell-off by selling 284 billion won. In contrast, retail investors managed to shift the market sentiment in their favor.