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Kospi surges past 6,500 amid U.S. cease-fire extension with Iran

Published: 23 Apr. 2026, 09:31 Updated: 23 Apr. 2026, 09:42

MICHAEL LEE
[email protected]

A trader walks by a screen displaying stock indices, including the Kospi, at Han Bank's dealing room in Jung District, central Seoul, on April 23. [NEWS1]

Korean stocks opened at a record high on Thursday, with the benchmark index passing the 6,500 mark in the morning as gains in large-cap tech shares and easing geopolitical tensions after the United States extended its cease-fire with Iran buoyed sentiment.

The benchmark Kospi opened at 6,488.83, up 70.9 points, or 1.1 percent, from the previous session's close. The index stood at 6,521.30 as of 9:21 a.m.

The gains came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a decision to extend a two-week cease-fire with Iran indefinitely, following stalled peace talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Overnight, U.S. stocks closed higher, supported by strong corporate earnings. The S&P 500 rose 1.05 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.64 percent, with both indices finishing at record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.69 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,478.0 against the U.S. dollar, down 2.0 won from the previous session.

BY MICHAEL LEE, YONHAP [[email protected]]