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Kospi closes above 6,200-mark with 2% climb on peace talk optimism

Published: 16 Apr. 2026, 17:48 Updated: 16 Apr. 2026, 17:52

The Kospi is displayed on an electronic board in the trading room of Hana Bank’s headquarters in Jung District, central Seoul, on April 16. [YONHAP]

Korean stocks rose for the third consecutive session on Thursday, closing above the 6,200-point mark for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran war amid hopes for a second round of peace talks. The local currency weakened against the greenback.

The benchmark Kospi rose 134.66 points, or 2.21 percent, to finish at 6,226.05.

It is the first time that the Kospi has closed over the 6,200 level since Feb. 27, when the index stood at 6,244.13, a day before the United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran.

The Kospi's record close stands at 6,307.27 set on Feb. 26.

Trading volume was moderate at 915.8 billion shares worth 26.5 trillion won ($18 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 654 to 206.

Foreigners purchased a net 464.4 billion won worth of stocks, and institutions scooped up a net 1.1 trillion won, while individuals sold a net 1.8 trillion won.

Market sentiment ran a bit high that the Iran war may be nearing an end and that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News released Wednesday that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is "very close to over," while the White House said further talks "would very likely" take place in the Pakistani capital.

Samsung and SK hynix [YONHAP]

A Pakistani delegation arrived in Tehran to help arrange another round of negotiations between the United States and Iran.

“It seems that investor appetite for risky assets revived as lingering uncertainties are fading away one by one," Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said. "The market is waiting for a scenario where a possible long cease-fire eases geopolitical tensions and uncertainties."

Tech and auto shares led the rally.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 3.08 percent to 217,500 won, and chip giant SK hynix added 1.67 percent to a fresh record high of 1.15 million won.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor jumped 5.12 percent to 534,000 won, and its sister Kia climbed 4.22 percent to 157,900 won.

Internet giant Naver advanced 3.55 percent to 218,500 won, and its rival Kakao gained 2.02 percent to 50,600 won.

Retail stocks were also strong as Lotte Shopping soared 13.31 percent to 121,700 won, and food giant Nongshim mounted 1.19 percent to 381,500 won.

Major pharmaceutical firm Celltrion added 3.47 percent to 209,000 won, and entertainment giant CJ ENM rose 2.59 percent to 55,500 won.

The won weakened 0.4 won from the previous session to trade at 1,474.6 won against the greenback as of 3:30 p.m.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 1.2 basis points to 3.340 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds rose 2.0 basis points to 3.536 percent.

Yonhap