In-depth: Korean stocks

증시 대담

Now it's time to check up on the markets in Korea and around the world. Let's start with U.S. markets, and for that, I'm joined by Dr. Hwang Seiwoon from the Korea Capital Market Institute.
Dr. Hwang, thanks for making time this afternoon.
My pleasure.
So stocks on Wall Street were up on Tuesday. Treasury yields stabilized, which would've been a relief to investors. What's the story there?
U.S. stocks ended higher on Tuesday, but sentiment on Wall Street was dampened by lingering fears that the economy is slowing down.
The Dow closed up 0.5 percent and the S&P 500 finished 0.7 percent higher after climbing 1.1 percent at its session high. The Nasdaq also gained 0.7 percent.
Energy shares led the gains in the S&P 500 Index as oil surged after Russia signaled commitment to output cuts.
The yield on benchmark U.S. bonds increased after a two-day plunge, though the spread between three-month and 10-year rates remained in negative territory. The U.S. dollar erased its monthly drop, and the Japanese yen led losses in safe currencies.
Risky assets rebounded on speculation that the recent sell-off in global markets had been overdone. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. added its voice to those advising against panic over the inversion of the U.S. yield curve.
Now, Korean stocks rose into positive territory mid-day, but they closed a little lower. Seems like Wall Street and U.S. bonds would've been part of that, but what happened?
The KOSPI market traded 0.14% lower(or higher) on Wednesday, decoupling with Japanese stock market(or the stock markets in Hong Kong & Shanghai), as investor concern over an economic downturn showed signs of easing.
KOSDAQ index declined 0.53% or 4 points. Foreigners and institutions net sold 69.1 billion won and 224.2 billion won respectively, while individuals who took the net-buy position of 270 billion won.
Lots of attention was paid to the general meeting of shareholders of Korean Air. Korea Air rose 2.16 percent as its shareholders voted against the reappointment of the current CEO Cho Yang-ho as director of the board.
The Korean won was changing hands at 1,134.90 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.50 won from the previous session's close.
Japanese stocks were down today, but other Asian markets were up. Seems like investors are getting some mixed signals.
Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday, with markets falling into a choppy pattern as investors weigh disappointing economic signs against a decisive turn towards accommodation by major central banks.
Japan’s Topix index was held down by more than two-thirds of companies trading without the right to current dividends. Declines for equities in Seoul and Sydney were more modest, while shares in Hong Kong and China climbed. Treasury yields dipped, while the yen trimmed overnight losses. The New Zealand dollar slid more than 1 percent after the central bank said the next move for its benchmark interest rate is more likely to be a cut.
Okay, Dr. Hwang. We'll have to leave it there.