Tech Stocks Drive Seoul Index to New Heights

South Korean shares climbed more than two percent on Tuesday, pushing the KOSPI past 5, 900 for the first time. The rise was led by technology firms, while the won weakened against the dollar. The benchmark index added 123 points to close at an all‑time high of 5, 969. The market has been on a steady uptrend for weeks, breaking the 5, 000 mark in late January and moving above 5, 500 early February. Trade volume hit 1. 58 billion shares, worth roughly 30 trillion won (about $21 billion). Despite more stocks falling than rising, institutional buyers added 2. 37 trillion won in net purchases, offsetting sales from foreign and retail investors. This surge happened even though U. S. markets fell, with the Dow dropping 1. 66 % and the Nasdaq slipping 1. 13 %.

Investors in Seoul were eager for chip stocks ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release, while they remained wary of new U. S. tariffs that could affect trade flows. Despite the uncertainty, analysts said a possible increase in global duties would not hurt Korea’s market because existing tariffs on Korean imports already match the new rates. Technology and auto shares led the gains: Samsung jumped 3. 6 % to 200, 000 won; SK hynix climbed 5. 7 % to a record of 1, 005, 000 won; Hyundai rose modestly by 0. 2 %; and LG Energy Solution gained over 4 %. Shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean fell nearly 3 %, and Lotte Shopping slipped about 1. 7 %. The won traded at around 1, 442 per dollar, a slight decline from the previous session. Bond yields edged higher: three‑year Treasury returns rose 0. 4 basis points to 3. 158 %, and five‑year bonds gained 0. 5 basis points to 3. 410 %.

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