FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Hit Record High on Trade Deal, Sector Gains

On Thursday, the benchmark KOSPI climbed by 1.1% to approximately 4,125, reaching new record highs. This increase was fueled by positive sentiment surrounding the recently established Korea-U.S. trade and investment agreement, coupled with robust corporate earnings. An investment package of USD 350 billion was agreed upon by Seoul and Washington at the APEC summit, comprising USD 200 billion in cash-based funding and USD 150 billion allocated for shipbuilding projects. Additionally, tariffs on Korean automobiles were lowered from 25% to 15%, mitigating potential losses for Hyundai and Kia. Further bolstering the optimistic outlook, Samsung Electronics announced a Q3 operating profit of KRW 12.2 trillion, attributed to strong demand for memory and foundry in the context of AI growth. The rally was led by gains in tech, auto, and shipbuilding stocks, including notable increases in Samsung Electronics (3.3%), SK Hynix (0.3%), Hyundai Motor (5.0%), Kia Corporation (3.1%), Hanwha Ocean (9.6%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.2%).