Stocks down late Thu. morning with U.S.-Iran talks in focus

▲ Traders work inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on March 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

stocks-morning

Stocks down late Thu. morning with U.S.-Iran talks in focus

SEOUL, March 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks were trading lower late Thursday morning, led by declines in major shares, amid prospects for U.S.-Iran talks to end their monthlong conflict.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 151.15 points, or 2.69 percent, to 5,490.7.

Traders continue to sit on the sidelines as they weigh the prospect of peace talks between the United States and Iran.

On Wednesday (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran "wants to make a deal so badly" but is "afraid to say it," after the White House said conversations with Tehran on the war are not at a dead end.

Iran, however, has dismissed a peace plan from the U.S., according to Iranian state-run media, as Iran's foreign minister denied having negotiations with Washington.

In Seoul, most large-cap shares were trading lower.

Market top-cap Samsung Electronics fell 4.66 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix shed 5.43 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor inched down 2.2 percent, and battery maker LG Energy Solution retreated 1.78 percent.

Among those who gathered ground were major financial group KB Financial, which added 2.21 percent, and shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, which advanced 0.96 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,504.9 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.2 won from the previous session, as of 11:20 a.m.

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