The Kospi opened lower on Monday as investors braced for key earnings reports from major chipmakers and the U.S. Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision. The benchmark index fell 51.25 points, or 0.92 percent, to 5,499.05 at the opening bell. The decline came despite a slight gain of 0.3 percent on Friday, though the index still lost 2.08 percent for the week due to heavy foreign selling and volatility in semiconductor shares.
Investors are closely watching for earnings reports from SK hynix on Wednesday and Samsung Electronics on Thursday, seeking insights into AI chip demand and memory prices. Meanwhile, Wall Street closed lower on Friday, weighed down by rising oil prices and concerns over returns on massive AI investments.
Oil prices edged lower from a six-month high early Monday, despite renewed geopolitical tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his willingness to resume strikes on Iran. The market's focus remains on the Fed's monetary policy decision later this week, which could further influence investor sentiment.