Business · Markets · 2 hrs ago
Exporters’ dollar sales offset foreign stock outflows, easing won pressure
Foreign investors sold more than they bought in South Korean shares, including 3.55 trillion won more over five trading days.
Selling shares can put pressure on the won if investors convert the proceeds into dollars, but not all of that money is necessarily exchanged.
Semiconductor exporters’ dollar sales helped push the exchange rate down as companies converted overseas earnings into won to cover domestic costs.
The won-dollar rate closed at 1,323.1 won per dollar, down 1.5 won from the previous trading day.
Dollar supply from exporters countered the usual pressure from foreign selling, helping explain why the currency strengthened.
Importers and South Korean investors buying overseas assets also need dollars, which can limit further declines.
Woori Bank expected the rate to dip near 1,320 won and then rebound, with the day’s projected range at 1,320 to 1,330 won.
The won weakened less than expected as exporters’ dollar sales offset pressure from foreign investors’ stock sales.
The dollar’s supply from semiconductor exporters helped push the won-dollar exchange rate lower.
Foreign investors sold a net 650.7 billion won of shares on the main KOSPI market the previous day.
Over five trading days, foreign investors sold 3.5504 trillion won more in shares than they bought.
Woori Bank expected the exchange rate to fall near 1,320 won before rebounding, with a forecast range of 1,320 to 1,330 won.
- Who
- Foreign stock investors, semiconductor exporters and other foreign-exchange market participants.
- What
- Exporters’ dollar sales offset pressure on the won from foreign investors’ stock sales, helping the won-dollar exchange rate fall.
- When
- The report was published on October 27, 2026. It describes trading the previous day and on October 27.
- Where
- The Seoul foreign-exchange market and the South Korean stock market.
- Why
- Exporters converted dollar revenues into won, increasing dollar supply. Foreign stock sales can increase demand for dollars, but not all proceeds are necessarily converted.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,323.1 won, down 1.5 won from the prior trading day, while foreign investors sold a net 650.7 billion won of shares.
Foreign investors sold 3.5504 trillion won more in shares than they bought.
The exchange rate was 1,326.0 won at about 9 a.m. in Seoul.
- Previous-day closing rate
- 1,323.1 won per dollar
- Previous-day foreign net sales
- 650.7 billion won of shares
- Five-day foreign net sales
- 3.5504 trillion won
- Exchange-rate low and high
- 1,320.6 won and 1,327.6 won
- Woori Bank forecast range
- 1,320–1,330 won per dollar
What people are saying
With no major change in semiconductor companies’ dollar sales, the typical ‘selling’ trend is expected to continue in the Seoul foreign-exchange market.
Actual demand for low-priced dollars, including importers’ payments, also supports the lower bound.