South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index rose 2.75% to around 5,502 on Thursday, advancing for a fourth straight session to reach a new record high, supported by strong domestic equity momentum.
Semiconductor stocks led the rally, with Samsung Electronics up 4.11% and SK Hynix gaining 3.26%, while AI-focused SK Square jumped 5.64%. Financials also added support, as Shinhan Financial climbed 3.87% and KB Financial rose 0.67%.
Kakao Corp gained 1.53% after its board approved the reappointment of CEO Chung Shin-a for an additional two-year term. The company also reported a significantly narrower fourth-quarter net loss of 39.3 billion won, compared with a loss of 395.2 billion won a year earlier.
Upside momentum was partly capped by weakness on Wall Street overnight, after stronger-than-expected US January employment data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged for longer, pressuring global equities. Investors are now focused on Friday’s release of US consumer price data for further signals on the Fed’s next policy steps.
