▲ Traders work inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Jan. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

stocks-open

Stocks open higher amid eased U.S. trade deal woes

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration will "work something out" with Seoul over a trade deal.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 83.87 points, or 1.65 percent, to 5,168.72 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Trump's comments made Tuesday, which came a day after he threatened to raise "reciprocal" tariffs against South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, seemed to have reassured investors.

Overnight, U.S. stocks ended higher with mega-cap tech shares outperforming. The S&P500 advanced 0.41 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed up 0.91 percent.

Investors are preparing for a wave of earnings results from the "Magnificent 7" companies and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision set to be due this week.

In Seoul, most large caps were trading higher.

Market top-cap Samsung Electronics added 1.94 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix rose 1.88 percent. The two chipmakers started strong ahead of their fourth-quarter earnings release, widely expected to beat market expectations.

Industry leader Hyundai Motor gained 2.76 percent, battery maker LG Energy Solution vaulted 9.55 percent, and Samsung Biologics inched up 0.73 percent.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace added 3.74 percent on reports the company secured a US$1.9 billion rocket deal with Norway.

The local currency was quoted at 1,433.5 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 12.7 won from the previous session's close.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]