Key facts
- Seoul stocks opened lower on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
- The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 1.2 percent at the open.
- The decline was influenced by a tech sell-off on Wall Street.
- The S&P 500 dropped approximately 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq fell 1.15 percent overnight.
- Investors are also awaiting the Federal Reserve's policy update.
Seoul stocks opened lower on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, as investors pulled back from artificial intelligence-related stocks, mirroring a trend seen on Wall Street.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) began the trading day down 104.47 points, or 1.2 percent, at 8,622.13.
This followed overnight declines on U.S. markets, where the S&P 500 fell by approximately 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 1.15 percent due to a tech sell-off.
Investors also adopted a cautious stance ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy update scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (U.S. time). There is some concern that the new Fed chair might signal a more hawkish monetary policy stance in their first meeting.