{
  "id": 818958,
  "title": "Seoul shares open sharply higher on US gains amid eased inflation woes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/seoul-shares-open-sharply-higher-on-us-gains-amid-eased-inflation-woes",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-14T00:17:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260814/seoul-shares-open-sharply-higher-on-us-gains-amid-eased-inflation-woes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Friday, South Korean shares experienced a sharp rise at the opening bell of the trading day, buoyed by gains in US markets and a decrease in inflation concerns. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) initially surged by 2.7 percent, reaching 6,901.29 points by 11:20 a.m. local time. This marked a significant increase from the previous session, with the index briefly touching the 7,000 mark in early trading, reflecting a 2.9 percent rise.\n\nForeign investors played a crucial role in the market rally, purchasing nearly 1.01 trillion won (USD 714 million) worth of shares. This buying spree effectively countered a net loss of 978.9 billion won due to selling by retail and institutional investors. The U.S. stock market also contributed to the positive sentiment, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.7 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.1 percent, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.8 percent.\n\nAmong Korean blue-chip stocks, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were notable gainers. Samsung Electronics saw a 0.56 percent increase, while SK hynix rose by 3.2 percent. Despite these positive moves, large-cap technology stocks saw continued selling pressure from investors. The Korean won strengthened against the US dollar, trading at 1,414.1 won per dollar, marking a 4.5 won increase from the prior session's close.",
  "summary": "Korean shares opened sharply higher on Friday, driven by gains in major chipmakers and tracking an overnight rally in U.S. shares, as latest data eased concerns over accelerating inflation. The KOSPI index jumped 182.33 points, or 2.7 percent, to 6,995.67. The U.S. stock market had previously surged to an all-time high, with the S&P 500 up 0.7 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.1 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite up 0.8 percent. U.S. wholesale inflation cooled in July, with energy and food costs declining, which, combined with weaker-than-expected job data from the previous week, is expected to lessen pressure on the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(URGENT) Seoul shares open 2.68 pct higher on U.S. gains amid eased inflation woes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/urgent-seoul-shares-open-2-68-pct-higher-on-u-s-gains-amid-eased",
        "published": "2026-08-14T00:01:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}