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  "Up, up, up": KOSPI zooms past 6,000 — and where next? SEOUL, Feb 25 (AJP) - It took the KOSPI three months to climb from 4,000 to 5,000 — and less than a month to zoom past 6,000. On Wednesday, the index closed at a record 6,083.86, capping one of the fastest rallies in its history. The jump is striking for a market that once waited more than a decade to reach each new four-digit milestone: 1,000 in 1989, 2,000 in 2007 and 3,000 in 2021. The index finally broke above the 4,000 on Oct. 17, and then landed above 5,000 on Jan. February 25, 2026
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  Asian stocks rally ahead of Nvidia earnings; Nikkei hits Record, KOSPI breaks 6,000 SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Asian equities advanced broadly on Tuesday ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report due at February 26 at 6 a.m. (Korea time), with Japan and South Korea both closing at record levels as technology shares led gains. Nikkei Closes Above 58,000 for First Time Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 2.20 percent, or 1,262.03 points, to close at 58,583.12, decisively surpassing its previous high of 57,650, recorded on Feb. 10 following the lower house election. I February 25, 2026
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  South Korea targets $740 billion in exports this year SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - South Korea is aiming to boost exports by diversifying markets, extending its growth streak into a second consecutive year. At a meeting in Seoul on Wednesday, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan unveiled plans to reach an export target of $740 billion this year. The goal follows last year's record $709.7 billion, which was driven by a historic surge in semiconductor exports. Citing growing uncertainty in the global trade environ February 25, 2026
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  The murmured question: Will Rhee become third BOK chief in second term? SEOUL, Feb. 26 (AJP) — That the Bank of Korea will keep the policy rate steady at 2.5 percent on Thursday is hardly in doubt. Whether Governor Rhee Chang-yong will still be holding the gavel beyond the April meeting is. Rhee’s four-year term ends on April 20, shortly after the next rate-setting meeting on April 10. Whether he remains in office will be decided next month. Under the Bank of Korea Act, the governor’s term may be extended once with presidential en February 25, 2026
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  Asian markets advance; KOSPI leapfrogs above 6,000 SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) — Asian markets opened higher on Wednesday on expectations that U.S. tariff measures would be applied more selectively following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, but their gains were eclipsed by the KOSPI’s staggering rally. Seoul’s main-board index surged past the 6,000-point mark at the opening bell, lifted by heavyweight technology shares as concerns over artificial intelligence-related disruptions eased. As of 11:10 a.m., the KOS February 25, 2026
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  KOSPI lands above 6,000 less than above 5,000 SEOUL, Feb 25 (AJP) - KOSPI, on a record-setting ride, climbed above the 6,000 mark on Wednesday, less than a month after it tested 5,000, as South Korean retail investors flooded into the red-hot market on bullish forecasts of a further run toward 8,000. As of 9:45 a.m., the KOSPI added 1.07 percent to 6,032.92, with retail buying overwhelming institutional profit-taking. After a stunning 76 percent gain last year, the benchmark has remained unfazed in 2026, soaring 41.66 perc February 25, 2026
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  Chips, KOSPI on fire as institutions bet on more upside SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) — Asian markets traded mostly higher Tuesday, with the exception of Hong Kong, as investors digested the rollout of a blanket 10 percent U.S. import levy that replaced earlier, steeper tariffs under former President Donald Trump following a Supreme Court ruling last week. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI roared higher, pushed by chip titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which hit fresh milestones of 200,000 won and 1 million won, respectivel February 24, 2026
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  KOSPI extends rally despite global headwinds and profit-taking SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Korean stocks extended their upward momentum Tuesday despite a choppy start, shrugging off overnight losses on Wall Street driven by tariff uncertainty and rising Middle East tensions. Seoul’s benchmark KOSPI advanced 1.42 percent to a fresh all-time high of 5,929.14 as of 11:15 a.m., while the KOSPI 200 gained 1.66 percent to 880.21. Overnight in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7 percent, the Nasdaq dropped 1.1 perc February 24, 2026
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  Korea's consumer confidence strongest in 3 mo Feb on buoyant stocks and exports SEOUL, Feb. 24 (AJP) — South Korea’s consumer confidence rose to its strongest level in three months in February, buoyed by a robust stock market and resilient exports, central bank data showed Tuesday. According to the Bank of Korea, the composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) stood at 112.1 in February, up from 110.8 in January and 109.8 in December. A reading above 100 indicates that optimism outweighs pessimism compared with the long-term average. The inde February 24, 2026
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  Coupang expresses regret amid US House probe SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Coupang has expressed "regret" that a dispute over alleged unfair treatment in South Korea prompted a U.S. House investigation. In a statement on Monday, "We regret the circumstances in Congressional deposition, and we remain committed to seeking a constructive resolution," said Robert Porter, Coupang's chief global affairs officer. "More broadly, Coupang hopes to be able to serve as February 24, 2026