Key facts
- KOSPI opened 0.17% higher at 6,022.64.
- US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 3.75-4 percent.
- Samsung Electronics forecast 195 trillion won in sales and 107.4 trillion won in operating profit for Q3.
- LG Energy Solution plunged 7.3% and Hyundai Motor fell 2.03%.
South Korean stocks opened slightly higher on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as the Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate and investors anticipated strong third-quarter earnings from Samsung Electronics. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 10.2 points, or 0.17 percent, to 6,022.64 by 9:15 a.m., extending a rally from the previous session. U.S. stocks also closed higher overnight following the Fed's decision. Samsung Electronics forecast third-quarter sales of 195 trillion won (US$145 billion) and operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, driven by demand for AI memory chips. Market heavyweights showed mixed performance, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix gaining, while LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor declined ahead of their earnings reports.