FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Stay at One-Month High

The benchmark KOSPI index increased by 0.3% on Monday, reaching 2,554 points. This marks a one-month high, driven by sustained investor optimism following the recent US-South Korea meeting aimed at alleviating trade tensions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the discussions as "very successful," with both nations agreeing to work towards a tariff-relief package scheduled for July. The negotiations are expected to focus on pivotal sectors such as automotive, shipbuilding, energy, and currency policy. South Korea was one of the first countries to enter trade discussions with the Trump administration. On the corporate front, investors are anticipating a new series of earnings reports set to be released later in the day, including Hanwha Ocean, which saw a 3.2% increase, and Samsung C&T Corporation, which rose by 1.3%. Conversely, Hanmi Semiconductor experienced a 2.4% decline, ahead of its earnings announcement.