According to Seoul Economic, on July 16, South Korean shipbuilder stocks gained strength as President Donald Trump signaled potential cooperation with Korean firms. Hanwha Ocean (042660) rose 1.46% to 83,200 won, while HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering advanced 3.13% to 345,500 won and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries climbed 0.42% to 473,000 won as of 10:37 a.m. On July 15, Trump spoke at an Army War College defense and innovation summit in Pennsylvania, stating the U.S. would "explore cooperation with overseas companies including Korea" to strengthen naval capabilities, and directly hinted at potentially purchasing some ships built outside the U.S. to rebuild aging naval vessels.
The broader market fell sharply, with the KOSPI and KOSDAQ down roughly 6% and 4% respectively, driven by semiconductor profit-taking following overnight U.S. market gains.