Seoul Stocks End Almost Flat as Investors Weigh Fed's Rate Hike

On September 17, 2026, Seoul stocks ended almost flat after a day of volatile trading. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) saw a slight decline of 2.56 points, closing at 6,715.41. This movement came as investors digested the news of the Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates for the first time in over three years by a quarter percentage point.

The market opened higher but struggled to maintain momentum as trading progressed. Analysts noted that the impact of the Fed's decision was limited, as it had been largely anticipated. Lee Kyoung-min from Daishin Securities commented that investor sentiment remained subdued, particularly due to a recent uptick in oil prices that seemed to have slowed down.

In the foreign exchange market, the Korean won depreciated against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,382.2 won per dollar. Meanwhile, trading volume was relatively low, with 197.2 million shares exchanged, amounting to 15.5 trillion won (approximately $11.2 billion).

Among the major players, semiconductor stocks faced losses, with Samsung Electronics dropping 0.39% and SK Hynix declining by 0.8%. Conversely, defense and shipping companies performed well, with Hanwha Aerospace gaining 3.98% and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries surging 6.58%.