KOSPI Edges Toward the 5,000-Point Mark as Global Optimism Takes Hold

South Korea’s benchmark stock index has registered strong momentum over consecutive trading sessions, gaining approximately 65 points or 1.3 percent. The KOSPI stands near the 4,950-point level heading into Friday, with positive signals pointing toward additional upward movement. The shift in sentiment stems from easing geopolitical concerns, particularly around Greenland, which has encouraged risk appetite across global markets. International bourses have turned bullish, setting the stage for Asian equities to follow.

KOSPI’s Two-Day Rally Gathers Traction

Thursday’s session saw the KOSPI close at 4,952.53, representing a gain of 42.60 points or 0.87 percent. Trading activity remained solid, with 544.3 million shares exchanged valued at 32.5 trillion won. The breadth of the market showed positive characteristics, with 563 gainers outnumbering 315 decliners. Technology and chemical sectors delivered standout performances, while profit-taking in the automotive space weighed on broader gains. The financial sector delivered a mixed performance, reflecting uncertainty within some banking stocks.

Individual Stocks Display Divergent Momentum

Among key players, Shinhan Financial advanced 2.09 percent while KB Financial retreated 1.54 percent. Hana Financial managed modest gains of 0.70 percent. In the semiconductor space, SK Hynix jumped 2.03 percent and Samsung Electronics climbed 1.87 percent, though Samsung SDI’s exceptional surge of 18.67 percent stood out. Electronics manufacturers showed weakness: LG Electronics declined 2.84 percent. The internet and chemical segment saw strong performances, with Naver rallying 2.94 percent, LG Chem soaring 5.89 percent, and Lotte Chemical accelerating 5.34 percent. Heavy industrials also performed well, as SK Innovation surged 6.05 percent and POSCO Holdings expanded 2.42 percent. In contrast, telecommunications and utilities faced headwinds, with SK Telecom climbing 1.15 percent while KEPCO tanked 2.80 percent. The automotive sector proved to be the day’s biggest laggard, with Hyundai Mobis plummeting 6.97 percent, Hyundai Motor stumbling 3.64 percent, and Kia Motors plunging 4.36 percent.

Wall Street’s Bullish Lead Supports Asian Markets

The catalyst for optimism originated from U.S. markets, where all three major indices closed firmly in positive territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 306.78 points or 0.63 percent to 49,384.01, the NASDAQ climbed 211.20 points or 0.91 percent to 23,436.02, and the S&P 500 added 37.73 points or 0.55 percent to 6,913.35. President Donald Trump’s decision to rule out military action regarding Greenland eased tensions that had spooked investors earlier, triggering a broad-based recovery across equities. Some market observers have characterized this as the return of the “TACO trade”—a term meaning “Trump Always Chickens Out”—suggesting that the president frequently walks back threats of tariff escalation after initial market volatility.

Economic Data and Energy Markets Shift Dynamics

The U.S. Labor Department reported a slight uptick in initial jobless claims in recent weeks, while the Commerce Department confirmed that consumer price growth matched expectations for November. These readings provided stability without major surprises. Oil markets, by contrast, experienced sharp declines as investors absorbed data on U.S. crude inventories, which increased substantially more than anticipated. West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery fell $1.29 or 2.13 percent to $59.33 per barrel, reflecting the market’s bearish interpretation of ample supply conditions. This energy market weakness provided a headwind to energy-related stocks globally, though the overall KOSPI benefited from the positive momentum driven by technology and chemical strength.

The combination of geopolitical relief, U.S. market strength, and sector-specific momentum positions the KOSPI favorably for continued gains as Friday’s session approaches.