▲ Dealers are seen working in the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Jan. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

stocks-morning

Stocks sharply up late Mon. morning, set for 12th winning day

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks were trading sharply higher late Monday morning, on pace to extend their winning streak to a 12th consecutive session.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 45.78 points, or 0.95 percent, to 4,886.52 as of 11:20 a.m.

After choppy trading, the KOSPI gathered ground in the late morning hours, boosted by gains from auto, shipbuilding and semiconductors.

On Friday (local time), major U.S. stock indexes ended lower, as investors reacted to fourth-quarter earnings results from U.S. companies. The S&P500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both slid 0.06 percent.

Investors are also on edge over renewed trade tensions, following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on eight European countries that have opposed his plans to acquire Greenland.

In Seoul, large-cap shares were trading mixed.

Market top-cap Samsung Electronics rose 0.13 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix added 1.98 percent.

Auto shares gathered ground, with top car market Hyundai Motor jumping 12.59 percent and its sister Kia advancing 6.68 percent.

In contrast, bio, financial and IT shares were in negative territory.

KB Financial Group dipped 1.15 percent, Celltrion inched down 1.2 percent, and portal operator Naver shed 2.44 percent.

The local currency was quoted at 1,475 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.4 won from the previous session's close.

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