The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.80% to around 4,140 on Wednesday, extending gains for a third consecutive session amid broad sector advances. This followed sector rotation in US markets, with Dow Jones closing at a record high while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined. Auto stocks led the rise for KOSPI, with Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation both up 2.8%, alongside Hanwha Aerospace (+1.9%), KB Financial Group (+1.2%), Celltrion (+4.2%), and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore (+2.5%). Meanwhile, tech shares lagged, with Samsung Electronics slipping 1.0% and SK Hynix down 1.5%, tracking weakness in US tech names and reeling from SoftBank’s sale of its entire Nvidia stake. Investors also noted the delay in the Korea-US tariff deal, highlighting trade uncertainty but signaling potential relief that could support auto exporters once implemented.
