Overview

• The KOSPI rose 1.3% to close at 3,209.86, marking a third straight gain following Jerome Powell’s suggestion that a September rate cut may be warranted.
• Chip and battery names outperformed, with SK hynix up 3.39%, LG Energy Solution up 3.4%, and Samsung SDI up 2.55%, while Samsung Electronics inched 0.14% higher.
• Foreign investors bought a net 26.7 billion won as institutions purchased 251.9 billion won and individuals sold 386.9 billion won.
• The won strengthened to 1,384.7 per U.S. dollar, up 8.5 won from the prior session.
• Traders watched for outcomes from the Seoul–Washington summit, where business leaders were widely expected to unveil investment pledges, and an analyst cited hopes for U.S.–Korea industrial cooperation lifting nuclear, chip, and pharma shares.