Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,661.28 points on March 11, 2022, down 19.04 points or 0.71 percent from the previous session’s close. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean stock markets are expected to continue to face volatile sessions next week, primarily due to persistent uncertainties in Ukraine and the upcoming monetary policy meeting by the U.S. Federal Reserve, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,661.28 points Friday, down 1.92 percent from a week ago. Stock trading was closed on Wednesday for the presidential election.
The key stock index rattled this week according to the rise and fall of the oil prices, largely swayed by the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine.
Oil and commodity prices jumped following the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid no sign of progress toward a ceasefire.
“The current circumstances (in Ukraine) are unlikely to last long, considering that Ukraine’s military capacity and Russia’s economic stamina are both waning,” said NH Investment & Securities analyst Kim Young-hwan.
“But there is Russia’s default risk with its government bonds due next week, in addition to the tapering worries about the March meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Investors may have to brace themselves for continuing volatility in the short term,” he added.
The two-day FOMC meeting is slated to start on Tuesday in the U.S.
Analysts also warned that the rising prices are decreasing corporate margins, citing brokerage consensus on local corporate earnings.
The consensus for corporate earnings in 2022 pointed at a mild curb in sales, but sharper cut in operating and net profit.
In the coming week, U.S. producer’s price index for February and China’s retail sales data for January and February will be released Tuesday in Korea time.
South Korea’s jobless rate and U.S. retail sales for February are set to be released Wednesday.
The March U.S. FOMC meeting results are slated to be announced on Thursday in Korea time.
(Yonhap)
