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Kospi opens sharply higher on hopes for second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks

Published: 15 Apr. 2026, 10:33 Updated: 15 Apr. 2026, 10:43

LEE JIAN
[email protected]

A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the Kospi opening on April 15. [YONHAP]

Seoul shares opened sharply higher on Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, thanks to high hopes regarding a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran.

After opening 2.91 percent higher, the benchmark Kopsi added 175.8 points, or 2.95 percent, to reach 6,143.55 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The Kospi surged nearly 3 percent on Tuesday to touch the 6,000 mark for the first time in a month.

The benchmark index added 159.13 points, or 2.74 percent, to close at 5,967.75, after reaching as high as 6,026.52. The index swerved over and under the 6,000-point mark for the first time since March 3, when the index traded at 6,180.45, the first trading day after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

The United States and Iran are reportedly seeking to hold a second round of peace talks days after the first round of negotiations, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, ended without an agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Tuesday that additional peace talks between the United States and Iran “could be happening over the next two days” in Pakistan during a phone call with a New York Post reporter.

“Investors anticipate a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran after Trump's comments,” said Kang Jin-hyuk, an analyst at Kyobo Securities. “The Wall Street Journal also reported that the two sides have exchanged detailed terms on uranium enrichment, raising further hopes for a deal.”

U.S. stocks ended higher overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.66 percent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1.96 percent.

Most large-cap stocks advanced.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 3.75 percent, and chip rival SK hynix jumped 5.53 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor climbed 4.78 percent, and leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gained 0.94 percent.

Leading shipping firm HMM rose 0.71 percent, and leading steelmaker Posco Holdings was up 2.77 percent.

Among decliners, Korea Aerospace Industries, the country's sole aircraft manufacturer, fell 1.55 percent, and LIG Defense and Aerospace declined 3.85 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,473.85 won against the dollar at 9:15 a.m., up 7.35 won from the previous session's close.

LEE JIAN, YONHAP [[email protected]]