Overview

• The KOSPI opened down 0.32% at 3,177.02 as investors reacted to Nvidia’s after-hours slide following a Q2 beat with slower AI-chip growth.
• By 11:20 a.m., the index rose 0.38% to 3,199.21 after the Bank of Korea kept its base rate at 2.5% and raised this year’s GDP forecast to 0.9% from 0.8%.
• Financial and defense shares led the rebound, with KB Financial Group up 1.47% and Hanwha Aerospace up 1.76%, while Hyundai Motor gained 1.36%.
• Chip and battery names lagged or were mixed, as Samsung Electronics slipped 0.64%, SK hynix added 1.44%, LG Energy Solution fell 2.14%, and Samsung SDI declined 1.59%.
• The won strengthened into the high-1,380s per U.S. dollar, quoted at 1,388.9 from around 1,391.5 earlier in the session.