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Kospi opens lower ahead of U.S. rate-setting meeting

Published: 08 Dec. 2025, 09:45

Kospi and Kosdaq figures are shown on a digital signage at a Hana Bank central Seoul branch on Dec. 8. [YONHAP]

Koreans stocks opened lower on Monday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting this week.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) lost 8.31 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,091.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting is set to kick off on Tuesday in the United States, with market watchers widely anticipating a 0.25 percentage point cut.

In Seoul, tech shares traded mixed, with top market cap Samsung Electronics remaining unchanged from the previous session while SK hynix slipped 1.1 percent. LG Energy Solution gained 1.88 percent.

Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor shed 1.59 percent, while its sister Kia added 0.73 percent. Hanwha Aerospace climbed 2.91 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,470.7 won against the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.9 won, or 0.13 percent, from the previous session's close of 1,468.8 won.

Yonhap