Seoul stocks open lower despite U.S. gains

Key facts

• South Korean stocks opened lower on Friday.
• The KOSPI index fell 0.47% to 6,938.27 at the opening bell.
• U.S. stocks finished modestly higher overnight.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.04%.
• The S&P 500 gained 0.19%.
• The Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.04%.

South Korean stocks began trading lower on Friday, October 2, 2026, despite a positive performance on Wall Street the previous evening. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened down 33.08 points, or 0.47 percent, settling at 6,938.27.

Overnight in the U.S., stock markets closed with modest gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.04 percent, the S&P 500 rose by 0.19 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index saw a 0.04 percent uptick. These gains were tempered by rising crude oil prices, though benchmark Treasury yields eased from recent multi-decade highs.