{
  "id": 7091458,
  "title": "South Korea extends stock trading hours in push for global investors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/south-korea-extends-stock-trading-hours-in-push-for-global-investors",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-13T09:07:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/south-korea-extends-stock-trading-hours-in-push-for-global-investors-4898722"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's primary stock exchange, Korea Exchange, will begin trading later in the evening from Monday, aiming to entice foreign investors by offering more access during European business hours, according to Bloomberg. The exchange will trade until 8 p.m., up from the current close at 3:30 p.m., covering approximately 2,400 stocks listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq indices. Short selling will be allowed during the extended session, but exchange-traded funds will not initially participate. This move is part of Korea Exchange's broader strategy to eventually achieve round-the-clock trading, with pre-market trading set to begin by the end of 2027. The country is testing this expansion after its stock market experienced significant growth this year, driven by enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. Despite the Kospi rising 64% in 2026, up from a 22% decline from its July peak, the move to extended trading is not entirely novel in South Korea. The alternative trading platform Nextrade already introduced pre-market and evening sessions in March 2025, capturing nearly a third of trading activity within months, with retail investors accounting for more than 80% of its activity outside regular hours. However, Korea Exchange faces the challenge of attracting institutional liquidity. Foreign investors may be hesitant to make large trades in major companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix until evening sessions develop a sufficient number of buyers and sellers, potentially leading to increased transaction costs and larger price swings. Currency hedging also poses a concern, as South Korea's foreign exchange market operates 24/7, but trading outside peak hours can be thin, making hedging more expensive for overseas funds. Proponents argue that the extended session will provide investors with greater flexibility and the ability to respond more quickly to earnings and news released after the regular close. The change comes following similar efforts to extend trading hours in the U.S., where Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange have pursued expanded access.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "South Korea extends stock trading into evening hours",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/south-korea-extends-stock-trading-into-evening-hours",
        "published": "2026-09-13T12:09:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}