South Korea Stocks Fall Amid Fed Rate-Cut Speculation

Published on 09/30/2025 at 03:27 am EDT
(MT Newswires) -- South Korean shares fell Tuesday as investors awaited Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, a key indicator for the Federal Reserve's next policy move.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 6.61 points, or 0.19%, to end at 3,424.6. The Kosdaq also decreased by 4.72 points, or 0.56%, to close at 841.99.
The release of U.S. jobs data may be delayed by a potential government shutdown next week. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect September nonfarm payrolls to rise 39,000, up from 22,000 in August, with unemployment at 4.3%.
The Federal Reserve cut rates this month for the first time in 2025 and is widely expected to reduce them by another 0.25 percentage point in October, with a possible further cut in December.
In economic news, South Korea's industrial output was unchanged in August as retail sales and facility investment fell, Statistics Korea said Tuesday.
Manufacturing rose 2.6% but construction dropped 6.1%, while services and public administration slipped. Capacity utilization climbed to 74.7%. The leading index rose to 102.0 and the coincident index to 99.2.
On the corporate front, Unions from 13 Samsung Group affiliates called on Tuesday for a transparent, profit-linked bonus system, following SK hynix's move to remove payout ceilings. Samsung currently sets incentives unilaterally for about 300,000 workers.
The Financial Supervisory Service told virtual asset operators to strengthen market monitoring and IT systems to protect consumers, emphasizing fairness and trust-based services over short-term profit.
Asiana Airlinescustomers can use accumulated miles at current value for 10 years after merging with Korean Air. Flight miles convert 1:1, partner miles 1:0.82, with an option to switch fully to Korean Air miles.

Sumber : MT Newswires