Key facts
- Seoul stocks opened higher on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
- The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened up 61.05 points, or 0.91 percent, to 6,779.02.
Seoul stocks open higher despite Fed rate hike
IN SHORT
Seoul stocks opened higher on Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI index rising 0.91% to 6,779.02. The gains were led by technology shares, despite the Federal Reserve's first interest rate increase in over three years aimed at combating inflation. The Fed raised its base rate by a quarter percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%.
Key Numbers
6,779.02KOSPI opening level on Sept. 17, 2026
+0.91%KOSPI opening gain on Sept. 17, 2026
61.05KOSPI points gained on Sept. 17, 2026
3.75% to 4%Federal Reserve target rate range
0.25%Federal Reserve rate hike amount
Who's Involved
Federal Reserve
raised its base rate by a quarter percentage point
Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)
opened up 61.05 points, or 0.91 percent, to 6,779.02
↳ Why This Matters
The Federal Reserve's rate hike signals a shift in monetary policy aimed at curbing inflation, which could impact global borrowing costs and economic growth. The resilience of Seoul's tech stocks suggests investor confidence in the sector's fundamentals despite tighter monetary conditions.