Overview

• The KOSPI index closed at 2,579.48 on May 8, 2025, marking a 0.22% increase and its third consecutive session of growth.
• Battery stocks performed strongly, with LG Energy Solution up 1.55% and POSCO Future M rising 3.1%.
• Retail sector leaders Shinsegae and Hyundai Department Store gained 0.82% and 5.08%, respectively, while defense firm LIG Nex1 surged 10.7% on robust earnings.
• Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing 130 billion won, while institutions and individuals were net sellers.
• The South Korean won strengthened slightly against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,396.6 won, as bond yields increased following the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady.