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  After Hormuz relief, KOSPI's next target is developed-market status SEOUL, June 15 (AJP)-With the Gulf crisis moving toward resolution, South Korea's stock market faces next test: whether a chip-led rally can carry the KOSPI from one of the world's best-performing markets to a developed-market benchmark. Semiconductors can lift the index. They cannot, by themselves, make Korea a developed market. The KOSPI has surged 92.8 percent since end-2025, far outpacing Taiwan's 52.5 percent gain, Japan's 31.1 percent rise and the Dow& June 15, 2026
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  KOSPI, Nikkei jump on US-Iran war deal; China lags SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) -South Korean and Japanese markets surged around 5 percent in early Monday session as uncertainties over energy shocks from the prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz were lifted upon the news of a peace deal between the United States and Iran. The KOSPI rose 415.20 points to 8,538.82, up 5.1 percent, by mid-morning. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped 5.3 percent to a year-to-date high, while Chinese markets lagged, the Shanghai Composite gaining 0.6 percent; i June 15, 2026
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  Korea's main stock index jumps 5%, won sharply eases on Iran peace deal SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) -South Korean stocks roared at Monday's opening bell after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire framework and announced plans to sign a permanent agreement later this week to guarantee toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting a rally in the country's memory chip giants. The benchmark KOSPI surged 5.46 percent to 8,567.05 in early trading, comfortably outpacing the roughly 3 percent gain in Japan's Nikkei 225. Large-ca June 15, 2026
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  Won, bonds rally on U.S.-Iran peace hopes SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The South Korean won and government bonds strengthened sharply Friday as hopes for an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict eased pressure from oil prices, the dollar and foreign equity outflows. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,519.8 won, down 9.1 won from the previous session, in Seoul’s foreign exchange market. The rate opened 10.9 won lower at 1,518.0 won before trimming part of its decline, but still ended in the 1,510-won range. The move came June 12, 2026
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  KOSPI surges over 4% as foreign buyers return after weeks of selling SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The KOSPI closed up 4.63 percent Friday, capping a volatile week with a broad rally as foreign investors returned to Korean stocks after weeks of relentless selling. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed up more than four percent on Friday, capping a volatile week with a broad rally as foreign investors returned to the market after weeks of relentless selling. The index gained 359.67 points or 4.63 percent, though it eased from a sharper morning advance June 12, 2026
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  SpaceX buzz, ceasefire hopes send KOSPI soaring back above 8,000 SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The KOSPI once again proved one of the world's most volatile major stock indexes, surging more than 7.6 percent Friday morning as hopes for a Middle East ceasefire and excitement surrounding SpaceX's Nasdaq debut sparked a broad-based rally in technology shares. As of 10:57 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI was up 7.76 percent at 8,366.47 after opening 6.44 percent higher. The index earlier jumped as much as 8.50 percent to 8,424.13. The sharp advance tri June 12, 2026
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  HOT STOCK: SpaceX suppliers Korea in focus after historic debut SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The historic Nasdaq debut of SpaceX has turned investor attention to the Korean companies inside its supply chain, with KOSDAQ-trading HVM and Sphere among the names positioned to benefit as the world's most valuable private space company enters the public market. HVM, which has supplied specialty metals to SpaceX directly since 2023, manufactures the high-strength alloys and titanium used in rockets and spacecraft, one of the few Korean firms with a co June 12, 2026
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  KOSPI jumps 7 percent at open, lands above 8,300 SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The KOSPI lands above 8,300 by leaping over 7 percent at the open Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump again claims a peace deal is close and much-hyped SpaceX IPO winds down. A quarter past the opening at 9:00 a.m. in Seoul, the KOSPI gained 7.78 percent to 8,373.11, more than eclipsing the previous 4.5 percent fall and extending this week's bout of violent swings from 4 to 8 percent. Samsung Electronics rose 10.0 percent to 329,000 won ($217) and June 12, 2026
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  SpaceX blasts off in $1.8 trillion IPO, likely extend global capital drain through June SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) -Elon Musk's SpaceX blasted off in the world's largest and most spectacular market debut, vacuuming up tens of billions of dollars from investors worldwide and underscoring why Seoul and other Asian markets had been rattled throughout the IPO week. SpaceX on Thursday sold all 555,555,555 shares offered in its initial public offering at $135 apiece, raising $75 billion and valuing the rocket and satellite company at about $1.77 trillion. They go straigh June 12, 2026