On expectations that the United States and Iran will reach an agreement in end-of-war talks after a cease-fire, the KOSPI jumped, putting 6,000 points back within sight.
On the 14th, the KOSPI closed at 5,967.75, up 159.13 points (2.74%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI opened at 5,960.00, up 151.38 points (2.61%) from the previous trading day, and the gains widened early as foreigners and institutions turned net buyers together. Intraday, the index topped 6,000 points, recovering the "six thousand" level for the first time in a month and a half since Mar. 3.
In the Korea Exchange's main board, foreigners were net buyers of more than 800 billion won, and institutions were net buyers of more than 1.2 trillion won. Among institutional accounts, financial investment, where exchange-traded fund (ETF) transactions are tallied, showed a buying advantage of more than 1.3 trillion won. In contrast, individuals were net sellers of 2.4 trillion won. Foreigners were also net buyers of 7,600 contracts in the KOSPI200 futures market on the day.
Fear over the Iran war, which had weighed heavily on Korea's stock market, is easing. Although the first end-of-war talks between the two countries ended without results, expectations are growing that the sides will reach an agreement.
U.S. media including The Wall Street Journal said the United States demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment for 20 years, while Iran proposed a shorter five-year period, scuttling a deal, but they analyzed that the two sides are highly likely to reach an agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the Iranian side had contacted the U.S. government for peace talks. As talks between the sides continue, expectations for tangible results expanded risk appetite, U.S. stocks rose across the board, and Government Bonds yields fell. Asian markets including Japan's Nikkei, Taiwan's Taiex, and China's Shanghai Composite also climbed across the board.
International oil prices, which had topped $100 per barrel after the first talks collapsed, fell back to around $90.
Semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were particularly strong. Alongside expectations that chipmakers' earnings will improve sharply in a super-boom, news the previous day that SanDisk was added to the Nasdaq-100 index acted as a tailwind for domestic semiconductor names.
Among individual stocks, LS Electric, which signed a large-scale supply contract with U.S. big tech companies, rose, and DL E&C, expected to benefit if postwar reconstruction proceeds, also gained. Securities stocks including Mirae Asset Securities were strong as well.
The KOSDAQ index also rose 2%, reclaiming 1,120 points. The KOSDAQ finished the day at 1,121.88, up 22.04 points (2.00%).
In Yeouido's securities circles, which had stressed "risk management" right after the Iran war broke out, voices are again mentioning the possibility of further gains. Kim Dong-Won, head of research at KB Securities, said, "In 2027, operating profit of KOSPI-listed companies will exceed 1,000 trillion won, helped by improved earnings at semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix," adding, "If a virtuous cycle in the economy takes hold, with strong semiconductor earnings, expanded fiscal soundness by the government, and stability in the won-dollar exchange rate, the KOSPI could rise further to 7,500 points."