The benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.2% to around 3,900 on Monday, rebounding from losses in the previous session, supported by expectations of a near-term US rate cut. Investors reacted to recent signals from a senior Federal Reserve official suggesting that easing could still be on the table this year, creating a more supportive backdrop for export-heavy markets like South Korea. Buying interest also strengthened domestically as investors stepped in following a sharp decline last week, which was triggered by concerns over an overheated AI sector rally. At the same time, the market continued to benefit from structural momentum in the semiconductor and AI industries, with heavyweight names helping to anchor overall sentiment. Samsung Electronics jumped 3.9%, Samsung Biologics surged 44.7%, KB Financial Group gained 1.8%, Naver added 1.5%, and Kia Corporation grew 0.5%.
