{
  "id": 1837411,
  "title": "Seoul shares open sharply lower on US tech sell-off",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/seoul-shares-open-sharply-lower-on-us-tech-sell-off",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260819/seoul-shares-open-sharply-lower-on-us-tech-sell-off"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul's stock market opened significantly lower on Wednesday, following a decline in U.S. technology shares on Wall Street. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), which serves as the market benchmark, dropped 6.61 percent, or 453.77 points, reaching a level of 6,416.06 by 09:15 a.m. Shortly after the market opened, program trading for KOSPI-listed shares was halted for five minutes as the Korea Exchange (KRX) activated a sell-side sidecar. This mechanism is set into motion when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index declines by 5 percent or more within a single minute.\n\nThe decline in the U.S. stock market was attributed to ongoing peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, which weighed on investor sentiment and contributed to a rise in oil prices. On Wall Street, major indexes closed with losses – the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.22 percent, while the S&P 500 experienced a loss of 0.69 percent. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index also declined by 1.33 percent.\n\nIn Seoul, tech stocks were particularly affected by the broader market downturn.",
  "summary": "Seoul shares opened sharply lower Wednesday, following overnight losses on Wall Street, as rising bond yields and oil prices weighed on technology stocks and dampened investor sentiment. After opening 4.96 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 453.77 points, or 6.61 percent, to 6,416.06 as of 09:15 a.m. Shortly after the opening bell, program trading for the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul stock market opened 6.61% lower",
    "KOSPI index dropped 453.77 points",
    "U.S. tech sell-off impacted tech stocks"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The sharp decline in Seoul shares, led by tech stocks, reflects increased investor caution amid rising oil prices and uncertain US-Iran relations, mirroring a sell-off in US technology shares.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Seoul shares open sharply lower on US tech sell-off",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/seoul-shares-open-sharply-lower-on-us-tech-sell-off-1839074",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:02:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}