KOSPI Hits Record High Amid Geopolitical Tension and Wall Street Rally

The KOSPI index surged to a fresh record closing high of 6,417.93 on Wednesday, capping a three-session winning streak that saw the market climb nearly 230 points, or 3.5%. The index now sits just below the 6,420-point threshold, maintaining a firm lead heading into Thursday's session. The rally was heavily influenced by a strong performance on Wall Street, where the NASDAQ and S&P 500 both achieved record closes. This positive momentum was driven by a complex geopolitical development: President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, although the U.S. continues to blockade maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. Market performance within South Korea remained fragmented across sectors. LG Electronics led the gains with a 4.90% jump, and Samsung SDI rose 2.17%. Conversely, the financial sector faced headwinds, with Hana Financial dropping 2.85% and KB Financial falling 1.87%. Energy markets reacted sharply to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which pushed West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices up 3.95% to $93.21 per barrel. This supply disruption concern contrasts with the general optimism surrounding corporate earnings results. Looking ahead, investors are focused on South Korea's preliminary Q1 GDP figures. The economy is expected to show a 0.9% increase on a quarterly basis and a 2.7% expansion year-on-year, recovering from a slight contraction in the previous quarter.