{
  "id": 2281929,
  "title": "Seoul stocks tad higher late Friday morning on chip gains",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/seoul-stocks-tad-higher-late-friday-morning-on-chip-gains-2281929",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-21T02:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260821/seoul-stocks-tad-higher-late-friday-morning-on-chip-gains"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul's stock market experienced a slight upward trend in late Friday morning, driven by gains in leading chip manufacturers. The optimism surrounding potential shareholder returns helped the market recover from early losses, despite growing worries about potential increases in U.S. Treasury yields.\n\nFollowing a 1.35 percent opening decline, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was able to erase its earlier losses, advancing by 42.61 points, or 0.61 percent, to reach 6,894.69 by 11:20 a.m. Eastern time. U.S. Treasury yields began rising again on Thursday, reversing most of the previous day's decline after the U.S. Treasury announced an expanded bond buyback plan.\n\nEarlier in the day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.32 percent, while the S&P 500 fell 0.87 percent. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index also declined by 1 percent. In Seoul, the performance of major chip producers played a significant role in supporting the broader market, fueled by ongoing expectations of shareholder returns.\n\nSamsung Electronics, the market's leading stock, climbed 3.04 percent after reports surfaced indicating the company could unveil a new shareholder return program valued at up to 110 trillion won ($79.7 billion) later that day. Its main competitor, SK hynix, mirrored the trend, surging 3.61 percent and continuing its recent rally.",
  "summary": "Seoul shares traded slightly higher late Friday morning as gains in major chipmakers on hopes for shareholder returns offset lingering concerns over renewed increases in U.S. Treasury yields. After opening 1.35 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) recovered its earlier losses, rising 42.61 points, or 0.61 percent, to 6,894.69 as of 11:20 a.m. U.S. Treasury yields…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Seoul stocks tad higher late Fri. morning on chip gains",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/seoul-stocks-tad-higher-late-fri-morning-on-chip-gains",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:27:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Seoul stocks tad higher late Friday morning on chip gains",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/seoul-stocks-tad-higher-late-friday-morning-on-chip-gains",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:42:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}