Seoul stocks trim earlier gains late Tues. morning despite easing Mideast tensions

▲ Traders are seen working inside the dealing room in Hana Bank of central Seoul on March 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

stocks-morning

Seoul stocks trim earlier gains late Tues. morning despite easing Mideast tensions

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks trimmed earlier gains late Tuesday morning, despite easing military tensions between the United States and Iran.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 45.02 points, or 0.83 percent, to 5,450.77, as of 11:20 a.m.

The index reduced its gains following a sharp rebound of over 4 percent in the opening bell, as the broader market came under selling pressure from foreign investors.

Overnight, major U.S. stock indexes closed up, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to postpone attacks on Iranian energy facilities after talks with Iran.

Trump had earlier threatened to hit Iran's power plants if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil waterway, by Monday evening. Iran, in response, warned it could retaliate.

The latest development fueled hopes that tensions in the Middle East could ease and soaring oil prices could stabilize.

Meanwhile, South Korea's tariff agency announced that the country's exports as of Friday rose by more than 50 percent on-year, primarily led by semiconductors, which posted a new monthly record.

Large-cap shares were trading mixed.

The country's two chipmakers lost some of its gains, with Samsung Electronics up 1.18 percent and SK hynix adding 2.47 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.24 percent, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace advanced 1.72 percent, while major financial group KB Financial remained unchanged.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,498.4 won against the U.S. dollar, up 18.9 won from the previous session.

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