FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Trade Flat

On Friday, the KOSPI index hovered around the 2,556 mark, as investors assessed the latest domestic economic data releases. The annual inflation rate remained steady at 2.1% in April 2025, aligning with the Bank of Korea's decision to maintain its policy rate at 2.75% in an effort to balance inflation control with economic growth support. Concurrently, preliminary figures indicated a significant increase in the trade surplus, which reached USD 4.88 billion in April—up from USD 1.53 billion the previous year. This surge was due to a surprise 3.7% year-on-year rise in exports, despite reduced shipments to the US amid stringent tariffs, while imports decreased by 2.3%. On the political scene, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok stepped down on Thursday, following political upheaval triggered by the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after a failed attempt at martial law. In stock movements, SK Hynix rose by 2.2%, Samsung Biologics by 1.3%, and Hanwha Aerospace by 1.4%. Overall, the index is poised to experience its first weekly decline.