Korea Stock

• South Korea's benchmark Kospi index experienced its sharpest reversal on record on Friday, following a volatile month of market swings. • The recovery was triggered by a strong overnight rally in U.S. tech stocks, driven by positive earnings reports from Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. • This rebound follows a significant crash on February 2, 2026, when the Kospi tumbled over 5% due to widespread fears of an AI-driven tech bubble.

• Asia-Pacific stocks rose for a second consecutive day, driven largely by a recovery in South Korean markets fueled by semiconductor giants SK Hynix and Samsung. • The Japanese yen surged abruptly while the US dollar declined following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged. • Long-term Treasury yields reached new multi-year highs as investors reacted to the Fed's steady rates amidst persistent inflation.

• South Korea's Kospi index experienced a severe downturn in July, ending the month 22% lower. • This represents the steepest monthly decline for the market since October 2008, signaling extreme volatility. • The crash highlights significant instability in the region's financial landscape and reflects broader economic pressures.

• South Korea’s Kospi index surged nearly 18% as artificial intelligence-related chipmaking stocks rebounded following losses earlier in the week. • Other Asian markets saw significant movement, including an 8% jump in Taiwan’s Taiex driven by a 10% increase for chipmaker TSMC and a 0.9% gain for the Shanghai Composite. • The rally highlights the volatile but strong influence of the AI sector on regional equity markets, contrasting with slight declines in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng.

Live, rolling coverage as British oil company looks for buyer amid political dispute over future drilling licencesThe owner of British Airways has reported a steep fall in profits and said it expects no growth in passenger capacity this year as the US-Israeli war in Iran takes its toll.International Airlines Group (IAG) said it expected demand to stay strong, but added that its “disciplined cost control” could only partly mitigate the impact of “a significant fuel price increase” caused by the attacks on Iran. Iran closed the strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks, a key export route for oil from the Gulf.With these results IAG has again demonstrated that its excellent fundamentals are supporting continued value creation for our shareholders, despite the impact of the crisis in the Middle East and wider geopolitical events.The UK has been our home for more than 100 years and will continue to play an important role in our future. We’re proud of the jobs we create, the contribution we make to the UK economy, and the work we do to keep energy flowing every day.The North Sea remains integral to the UK’s energy system. However, as we focus our portfolio and direct capital to our highest-value opportunities, we believe our North Sea business will be better positioned as part of another company. It has world-class people, resilient assets and a proud heritage, and it is precisely these qualities that can attract an owner ready to back its next chapter. We are seeking an outcome that recognises that value.I indicated in the phone call that we had, a week last Monday, that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here.There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president. Continue reading...

• South Korea’s Kospi index surged more than 16% on Friday, driven by a rebound in artificial intelligence and chipmaking stocks following earlier weekly losses. • The rally mirrored gains on Wall Street and coincided with broader Asian market growth, including a more than 7% jump in Taiwan's Taiex and a 0.5% increase in Australia's S&P/ASX 200. • Market volatility was further influenced by suspected currency interventions to support the Japanese yen, which analysts believe may keep the currency around the 160 level for the remainder of the year.

• Japanese and South Korean stock markets experienced a sharp rebound on July 31, with the Nikkei 225 rising 4.10% and the KOSPI surging 13%. • Major tech players led the rally, as SK Hynix jumped over 27% and Samsung gained more than 22% following positive U.S. earnings from AI-related giants. • The recovery is attributed to eased concerns over AI investments and a significant unwinding of extreme leverage in South Korea, which helped cool market panic.