FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Rise on Tech Gains

The benchmark KOSPI rose more than 2% to around 6,850 on Friday, recouping the previous session’s losses as a rebound in US technology stocks buoyed regional markets. The Nasdaq gained 1.7% overnight, with tech shares recovering in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike, while Brent crude slipped to about $104 per barrel, easing concerns over inflation and borrowing costs. Robust demand for AI-related semiconductors also continued to support major chipmakers, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix advancing more than 2% and 4%, respectively. In addition, reports that the US may postpone the announcement of new tariffs tied to excess industrial capacity until after next week’s Trump–Xi summit reduced immediate trade risks for Korean exporters. However, renewed pressure on the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates following the Fed’s move remained a potential headwind to a broader market recovery.