South Korean shares rebound nearly 7% on US tech boost, market reform hopes

Published on 02/03/2026 at 02:08 am EST

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
• Korean won strengthens against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose nearly 7% on Tuesday to notch a record closing high, as overnight gains in U.S. tech stocks and expectations of domestic market reforms boosted risk sentiment.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended up 338.41 points, or 6.84%, at 5,288.08, marking its highest close on record and the biggest daily percentage rise since March 24, 2020.
** During the session, a sidecar trading curb was activated on the KOSPI, halting programme trading for five minutes, after futures rose 5%.
** On Monday, the index dropped 5.3%, marking the steepest daily fall since April 7, 2025.
** The S&P 500 closed higher on Monday, lifted by gains in chipmakers and other companies related to artificial intelligence.
** South Korea's vice finance minister said the government had "enough policy capacity" to respond to any external uncertainties.
** The ruling Democratic Party plans to bring another revision to the Commercial Act to a vote on Thursday, in the latest market reform push under the administration of President Lee Jae Myung, according to local media reports.
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 11.37% to an all-time high, marking its biggest daily jump since October 30, 2008. Peer SK Hynix gained 9.28%.
** Battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 2.89%, while Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 2.82% and 2.60%, respectively.
** Securities firms rallied 14.9%, while financial groups rose 5.94%.
** Of the total 926 traded issues, 827 shares advanced, while 76 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 703.3 billion won ($486.11 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,445.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.42% higher than its previous close at 1,451.5.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds lost 0.09 point to 104.83.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 3.5 basis points to 3.182%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 5.6 basis points to 3.652%.
($1 = 1,446.8000 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

Sumber : Reuters