Asian markets retreat as Trump's extension of ceasefire with Iran casts fresh uncertainty SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - Asian markets mostly fell on Wednesday morning as lingering uncertainty over the prolonged conflict in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment, after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely. Overnight, all three major U.S. indices closed lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.63 percent to 7,064.01, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.59 percent to 24,259.96 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.59 percent to 49,149.38. April 22, 2026

KOSPI hits record high on hopes before Iran announces to skip ceasefire talk SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market opened sharply higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark KOSPI hitting a fresh record, before quickly surrendering gains as geopolitical uncertainty weighed on sentiment. The KOSPI rose to a record 6,401.97 at the open, extending early momentum, but failed to sustain the upward trajectory and slipped to around 6,366.5 in early trading. After climbing at the market open at 9:00 a.m., the index began to pull back April 22, 2026

KOSPI zooms to land on new high, unbothered by Gulf truce deadline SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) — The KOSPI ended as a winner amid broadly positive Asian trade Tuesday, breaking post-war highs on a renewed chip rally ahead of SK hynix’s earnings report later this week. The benchmark KOSPI rose 2.7 percent to close at 6,388.47, a new record closing high, amid a tight tug-of-war between institutional buying and retail profit-taking. Foreign investors led the advance, purchasing a net 1.33 trillion won ($905 million), while institutions adde April 21, 2026

Roller-coaster KOSPI turns into a playground for high-frequency traders SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) — South Korea’s stock market is back on a roller-coaster ride, with sharp swings raising concerns that high-frequency trading (HFT) and weak oversight are amplifying volatility and feeding unfair practices. The KOSPI rally, which had pushed past the 6,000 level, was abruptly halted by the late-February outbreak of war, sending the market into a steep downturn. The index has since rebounded and is again heading toward new highs, underscoring the in April 21, 2026

Forced share cancellations redraw control map across Korea Inc. SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Mandatory treasury share retirements are rapidly reshaping ownership structures across South Korea’s conglomerates, with cancellations surging past $30 billion in the first quarter alone under a tougher Commercial Act of South Korea. According to a study of 73 conglomerates and 339 affiliates by corporate tracker CEO Score, listed firms canceled shares worth 42.52 trillion won ($30 billion) in the January–March period—more than triple the April 21, 2026

KOSPI hits fresh record as chip rally lifts market ahead of looming US-Iran talks SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Asian markets mostly opened higher on Tuesday amid growing expectations ahead of looming talks between the United States and Iran to end the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI hit an all-time high of 6,355.39 during morning trading, breaking the previous intraday record set on Feb. 27, while the junior KOSDAQ edged down 0.03 percent to 1,174.52. Shareholder returns are gaining momentum. Total cash dividends by KOSPI-listed April 21, 2026

South Korea posts record exports in April as semiconductor shipments soar SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea's exports jumped sharply in the first 20 days of this month, driven largely by strong global demand for semiconductors, according to figures released by the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday. Outbound shipments surged to US$50.4 billion between April 1 and 20, up 49.4 percent from a year earlier, the highest level ever recorded for the period and surpassing the previous record of $36.4 billion in 2022. Imports also increased 17.7 percent dur April 21, 2026

New Bank of Korea chief stresses "discretion" as oil shock weighs prices and growth SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) —New Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song underlined “discretion” and “flexibility” in steering monetary policy as Middle East-driven supply disruptions stoke inflation while weighing on growth. “Upward pressure on prices and downward pressure on the economy have simultaneously increased due to rising international oil prices following the Middle East conflict,” Shin said in his inauguration address Tuesday, as he April 21, 2026

KOSPI sets fresh record, powered by chip stocks SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI touched new heights in early Tuesday session with its new bullish momentum undisturbed by the uncertainties in the Middle East ahead of the expiration of truce between the U.S. and Iran as it prices in record first-quarter reports from SK hynix scheduled for Thursday. As of 9:50 a.m., the main index stood at 6,341.94, up 1.94 percent, after topping 6,350 earlier in the session on heavy foreign buying from the open. The le April 21, 2026

Asian stocks close higher amid cautious optimism over possible fresh US-Iran talks SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Asian stock markets closed higher on Monday as investors bet on optimism ahead of another round of ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, lifting overall market sentiment despite lingering tensions in the Middle East. Despite conflicting reports of impending talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, with Iran denying any plans to negotiate, the benchmark KOSPI in Seoul gained 0.44 percent to close at 6,219.09, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 0.41 percent to f April 20, 2026