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Kospi rises 0.82% on tech stocks as Samsung announces record profit

Published: 07 Apr. 2026, 18:08

An electronic board in the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul shows the benchmark Kospi rising 0.82 percent to close at 5,494.78 on April 7. [YONHAP]

Korean stocks ended higher Tuesday, led by gains in technology shares, while investors remained cautious ahead of a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential peace deal with Iran. The won rose against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi rose 44.45 points, or 0.82 percent, to 5,494.78.

Trading volume was moderate at 979.32 million shares, with a total value of 23.11 trillion won ($15.4 billion). Decliners outnumbered gainers 577 to 286.

The main index extended gains after Samsung Electronics estimated its operating profit for the January-March quarter surged nearly ninefold to a record 57.2 trillion won, compared to 6.61 trillion won a year earlier, driven by robust demand for artificial intelligence-related chips.

Foreign investors bought a net 406.88 billion won worth of stocks, while institutional and retail investors sold a net 414.13 billion won and 342.63 billion won, respectively.

“Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties linked to tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the Korean market was supported by overnight gains on Wall Street, particularly in semiconductor stocks, and by expectations of further upside following Samsung Electronics' strong first-quarter earnings," said Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.

Trump on Monday expanded his warning to Iran to include potential strikes on infrastructure such as power plants and bridges, as the deadline for his proposed deal — requiring Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping — approaches. It is set to expire at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Korea.

In Seoul, technology stocks led the gain.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 1.76 percent to 196,500 won, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix surged 3.39 percent to 916,000 won.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Industries jumped 6 percent to 1,537,000 won, and top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 0.85 percent to 473,000 won.

Among decliners, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution fell 0.97 percent to 408,500 won, and top refiner SK Innovation declined 1.14 percent to 121,800 won.

The local currency strengthened by 2.1 won, closing at 1,504.20 won against the dollar.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 1.9 basis points to 3.451 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds climbed 2.8 basis points to 3.622 percent.

Yonhap