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The KOSPI exploded 17.91% to 6,595, its largest gain on record, as forced selling burned out. The test ahead is whether this is a 1998 meltup or a 2000 bear-rally trap, and the divider is capex and earnings. Amazon lifting capex is an early tilt toward the 1998 case, but in 2000 the first quarter looked fine too.

The KOSPI fell 1.23% to 5,593, a fourth straight drop, pressed by a hawkish FOMC and doubts over AI profitability. Overnight, Wall Street flipped — a Microsoft earnings surprise lifted the Nasdaq 2.78% and the VIX collapsed to 17. The forced-selling leverage unwind ended as Citadel absorbed the book, and Amazon raised capex guidance to 220 billion dollars.

The KOSPI fell 5.98% to 5,663, tripping a circuit breaker for a second straight day. AI demand is intact, yet the market sells on good news and bad alike — a death spiral. Policy variables now outweigh market logic.

The KOSPI crashed 10.84% to 6,023, triggering a sidecar and a circuit breaker at once. A report of China ramping up DUV lithography fanned fears for Korean chips. Samsung fell 13% and SK Hynix 15%.

The KOSPI rose 0.97% to 6,755, bouncing back. SK Hynix gained 3% on hopes for Korea-US AI cooperation. Foreigners sold 2.9 trillion won, but retail and institutions absorbed it to defend the index.

The KOSPI crashed 5.72% to 6,690, collapsing back below the 7,000 line just a day after reclaiming it. Middle East tensions pushed oil above 100 dollars a barrel while US chip weakness sent Samsung and SK Hynix down over 7%. Foreign investors dumped over 3 trillion won of stock.

The KOSPI surged 4.40% to 7,096, reclaiming the 7,000 line in a single day. US stocks fell, however, as Alphabet slid about 7% on a capex shock and chipmakers slipped. The VIX jumped 12% to 18.7, flagging a fresh crack in risk appetite.

Alphabet cleared Q2 with revenue of 119.8 billion dollars, up 24%, and cloud up 82% to 24.77 billion. GAAP EPS of 9.11 dollars is flattered by a 99 billion equity-stake mark-up, leaving roughly 2.85 excluding it. Shares slid after hours as capex guidance rose to 195 to 205 billion, buybacks halted and free cash flow turned negative.

The KOSPI rebounded 3.56% to close at 6,747, reclaiming the 6,700 line on a wave of chip export strength. Customs data showed July 1-20 exports hit a record 54.9 billion dollars, with semiconductors surging 181% to 22.1 billion. Foreign and institutional investors scooped up Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, powering the index higher.

Sidecar halts hit both boards as the KOSPI plunged 4.5% to 6,516 and the KOSDAQ surrendered the 750 line at 749. Samsung Electronics carved a fresh correction low, stretching the index drawdown past 28% from the June peak. Renewed Middle East tensions lifted oil, adding a risk-off overlay.

The Korean market was closed for Constitution Day, reinstated as a public holiday after 18 years. The first response to the crash and the new leverage rules was pushed to Monday. In New York, the Nasdaq fell 1.40% and the VIX jumped 12% to 18.77 as chip weakness continued.

The KOSPI plunged 6.37% to close at 6,820.60, surrendering the 7,000 line just a day after reclaiming it. Regulators unveiled measures raising the minimum deposit for single-stock leveraged ETFs to 30 million won. Samsung Electronics fell 8.77% and SK Hynix dropped 11.53%, leading the decline.

The KOSPI surged 6.24% to close at 7,284.41, extending the previous day's fragile rebound. It gained 7.02% over two days but remained 2.56% below its July 10 close. The reversal was powerful, but the damage has not been fully repaired.

The KOSPI rose 0.73% to close at 6,856.83 after the previous day's 8.95% collapse. It fell as low as 6,448.86 intraday before erasing the loss, but recovered less than one-tenth of the prior drop. The plunge paused, but the bottom was not confirmed.

The KOSPI plunged 8.95% to close at 6,806, breaking below the 7,000 line. It tried to rebound as high as 7,529 intraday before reversing to a low of 6,783. Samsung Electronics fell 10.7% and SK Hynix 15.4%, with the chip pair driving the collapse.

The KOSPI extended its rebound for a second day, closing 2.52% higher at 7,475.94. Institutions bought over 1 trillion won to lift the index while the KOSDAQ jumped 5.47% to reclaim 837. The same day, SK Hynix debuted on the Nasdaq with a record $26.5 billion listing, the largest ever by a foreign company.

The KOSPI whipsawed between 7,543 and 7,063 before closing up 0.62% at 7,292. SK Hynix jumped more than 5% as foreign and institutional buyers absorbed some 2 trillion won of retail selling. Still, this was a fragile dip-buying rebound rather than a genuine return of risk appetite.

The KOSPI fell for a second day, dropping a steeper 5.4% to close at 7,247 in a selloff dubbed Black Wednesday. The KOSDAQ broke below the 800 line to end at 785 as chip peak-out fears spread. Domestic institutions drove the selloff, while foreign investors turned net buyers.

Samsung Electronics slid nearly 7% despite record quarterly earnings, and the KOSPI collapsed 4.9% to 7,656. Intraday losses topped 8%, triggering a circuit breaker, while foreign investors dumped a net 2.9 trillion won on the main board. Wall Street also fell as chip weakness pushed the Nasdaq down 1.2%.

Weak June US payrolls of 57,000 revived rate-cut hopes, lifting the Nasdaq 1.1% and the S&P 500 0.7%. The KOSPI slipped 0.5% to 8,051, pausing ahead of Samsung's preliminary Q2 earnings. The won traded around 1,530 per dollar on the first day of 24-hour FX trading.

The KOSPI rebounded 5.8% to 8,088 on dip-buying, reclaiming the 8,000 line in a single day. Institutions bought a net 4.5 trillion won as Samsung Electronics rose 8.2% and SK Hynix 10.9%. US markets were closed for Independence Day.

The KOSPI crashed 7.9% to 7,648 as Meta's cloud entry stoked fears of an AI compute glut. Samsung Electronics fell 9.1% and SK Hynix 14.6%, while the won closed at its weakest since 2009. In a shortened US session the Dow hit a record but chips fell for a second day.

The KOSPI plunged 2% to 8,303 on profit-taking in its two chip heavyweights. Advancers outnumbered decliners three to one, yet Samsung Electronics' 5.8% drop dragged the index down. US chips fell too, with the semiconductor index down 4.7% as Fed Chair Warsh struck a hawkish tone.

The KOSPI rose 1% to 8,476 on a semiconductor rebound. Foreigners sold 3.8 trillion won but institutions absorbed it, and Samsung Electronics jumped 3.4%. The S&P 500 closed out its best quarter since 2020 with a 16.3% gain.

The KOSPI closed flat, down 0.2%. The government unveiled an AI mega-project with four 800-trillion-won memory fabs, raising the stakes for long-term chips. Wall Street rallied on chips, the Dow topped 52,000 for the first time and the Nasdaq jumped 2%, reaffirming the AI chip cycle.

The KOSPI crashed 5.81% to 8,411 after an intraday 8% plunge triggered a circuit breaker, fully erasing the prior day's rebound. Foreigners dumped Samsung and SK Hynix on June-end rebalancing, with an Apple price hike and OpenAI IPO delay news crushing chip sentiment. US stocks held flat, but the Nasdaq logged a fifth straight loss.

The KOSPI surged 5.42% to 8,930, nearly recovering its pre-crash level on a second rebound day. In Micron's wake, Apple and Microsoft hiked hardware prices citing soaring memory costs, and Apple fell over 6%. The memory super-cycle is spilling into device inflation, splitting winners and losers within Big Tech.

The KOSPI rebounded 3.26% to 8,471, clawing back part of the prior day's crash. Micron blew past consensus with $41.4B revenue and $25.11 EPS, jumping 13% after hours. An 86% gross margin plus a $50B next-quarter revenue guide confirmed a memory super-cycle that calmed the selloff fears.

The KOSPI crashed 9.99% to 8,203, triggering circuit breakers twice in one session. Samsung and SK Hynix each fell over 12% as the AI and chip crowding unwound all at once. The Nasdaq dropped 2.21% as the overheated memory rally turned into a global bout of profit-taking.

KOSPI closed at 9,113, clearing 9,100 for the first time and setting a fresh record high. The same day, US stocks wobbled as Big Tech bled AI talent. Alphabet slid 6%, dragging the Nasdaq down 1.3%.

KOSPI spiked to a fresh record 9,385 early before profit-taking pulled it back to 9,052. The high-low swing topped 553 points, a rough volatility day. US markets were shut for Juneteenth, so Korea traded alone.

Samsung and SK Hynix jumped 4.6% and 6.5%, lifting the KOSPI 2.25% past 9,000 for the first time. Micron tagged a fresh record, up ~8% after TD Cowen and RBC lifted targets to $1,500 and $1,200. Wall Street rebounded after digesting a hawkish FOMC, but warnings over memory crowding grew louder.

Warsh's first FOMC landed hawkish and US stocks fell more than 1%. The dot plot erased 2026 cuts as 9 of 18 officials now pencil in a hike. KOSPI set a fresh record at 8,864 before the decision, but the dollar surged and the won slid to 1,533.

Micron printed a double top after its $1,097 record, triggering a wave of profit-taking across semis. Ahead of new Chair Warsh's first FOMC, money rotated out of chips into financials and communications. SpaceX's blow-off rally reopened the froth debate, putting the memory trio's $3.5T market cap under scrutiny.

Risk appetite extended on an imminent Iran deal, with the KOSPI surging 4.63% to reclaim the 8,100 line. Foreign investors returned with 2.7 trillion won of net buying, their first simultaneous spot-and-futures buying in 25 sessions. In the US, SpaceX jumped 19% to close at $161 in history's largest IPO debut.

Trump canceled Iran strikes and said a deal is essentially agreed, igniting risk appetite: Nasdaq +2.54%, S&P +1.75%. Oil sank over 4% to ~$86, its lowest since April, on Hormuz-reopening hopes. KOSPI swung from -3% intraday to close +0.43% (7,764).

US May CPI hit a 3-year high of 4.2%, reviving rate fears: Dow -953, Nasdaq -1.98%. Washington signaling fresh strikes on Iran deepened the risk-off move. KOSPI fell -4.52% (7,731) as forced selling hit a 3-year high.

KOSPI roared +8.18% (8,097) in its best day of 2026, led by SK Hynix +16% and Samsung +9%. Jensen Huang's 'buy the dip' call on AI chips pulled foreign buyers back. US slipped as Trump teased fresh Iran strikes; Nasdaq -0.97%.

KOSPI circuit breaker (-8.29%, 7,484) as Friday's chip rout + Iran-Israel missile strike sparked foreign selloff. Samsung -10%, Hynix -7%; the US rebounded (Micron +10%), leaving Korea isolated.

May payrolls of +172K (above the ~80K consensus) fueled rate-hike bets and a yield spike, sinking AI and chips. The Nasdaq fell 4.18% and the S&P 2.64%, erasing $1T (Marvell -16%, Micron -13%). Korea fell too, with the KOSPI down 5.54% to 8,161 despite Jensen Huang's HBM4 certification, and the US plunge leaves further gap-down risk.

Broadcom fell 12.6% to $418.91 as Q3 AI guidance ($16B) trailed the $17.2B consensus despite a Q2 beat. SOXX fell 2.1%, but Google's $85B expansion lifted the S&P and Dow, splitting the tape. KOSPI eased to 8,720 (-1.5%) on chip weakness, capped by Jensen Huang's visit.

Broadcom's AI revenue surged 143% but Q3 AI guidance ($16B) trailed expectations ($17.2B), sending shares down 14% after hours. US stocks retreated from record highs (S&P -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.9%) on software and chip profit-taking. WTI topped $95 and Bitcoin fell 6% as risk assets weakened.

AI CAPEX race heats up — Google raises $800B via ATM, preferred shares & Buffett; Anthropic files confidentially for IPO. NVIDIA AI PC & agentic AI spark SW sector interest (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Oracle, CoreWeave). WTI $92 (+5.7%) on renewed Iran tensions.

ISM Manufacturing hit 54%, the highest since 2022, and NVIDIA's new AI PC chip lifted tech to records. The S&P closed near 7,600 and the Nasdaq near 27,087. KOSPI hit a record 8,851 (+4.4%) as foreigners bought the memory duo on Jensen Huang's visit and HBM4 hopes.

S&P 7,564 and NASDAQ 26,917 both hit new all-time highs, Snowflake +36.5% on AI software optimism. KOSPI 8,185 (-0.53%) retreats on Middle East risks and hawkish BOK. PCE inflation hits 3.8%, highest in nearly 3 years, Fed rate cut hopes fade.

KOSPI 8,229 consecutive all-time high (+2.25%), SK Hynix surges +10%. WTI plunges to $88.68 (-5.55%) on Iran 'Hormuz normalization within 1 month' claim (White House denies). Dow hits record, S&P and NASDAQ up slightly.

KOSPI hits all-time high 8,048 (+2.55%) on US-Iran deal optimism, risk-on surge. S&P and NASDAQ both hit record highs, Micron +19% crosses $1T market cap. WTI plunges to $92 (-6%) on Hormuz reopening hopes.

S&P 500 extends its winning streak to eight weeks, Dow +0.58% / Nasdaq +0.2% lead. KOSPI 7,848 (+0.41%) recovers for a third day but foreign net selling totals KRW 46T over May 7-22, with SK Hynix + Samsung at 83% of that. WTI ~$98 / USDKRW 1,517 deepen weakness, and NVDA's blowout still leaves the stock at $215.33 on May 22.

KOSPI surged +8.42% on Samsung labor deal, buy sidecar triggered. Oil rebounded to $101 as Iran's Supreme Leader ordered uranium retention despite US-Iran peace talks. S&P and Nasdaq fell 0.5% on Treasury yield pressure.

NVIDIA Q1'27 beat across all metrics — revenue $81.6B (+85% YoY), Q2 guidance $91B topped even whisper numbers. Dividend raised 25x + $80B buyback approved. Samsung strike settled at last minute. S&P +1% rebounds on energy stabilization.

Google I/O unveiled Gemini 3.5 Flash + 24/7 AI agent Spark. 30Y Treasury hit 5.19%, highest in 19 years. KOSPI -3.25% with KRW 1.65T foreign selling; Samsung and Hynix correction continues. Trump called off Iran strike but relief limited.

10Y Treasury at 4.6%, 30Y at 5.134% — highest since 2007. CPI-PPI energy shock translating to inflation, Fed rate cut expectations fully evaporated; rate hike bets rising. Dow +0.32% only green, Nasdaq -0.51% tech weakness.

KOSPI plunged 6.12% to 7,493.18 after touching 8,046 intraday — foreigners dumped a record KRW 5.6T and a circuit breaker triggered. Samsung -8.61% and SK Hynix -7.66% led the rout. Five factors converged — Trump-Iran, 10Y 4.5%+, USDKRW 1,500, Samsung strike risk, and overheated valuations.

KOSPI closed at a record 7,981.41 (+1.75%) as KB Securities raised its 2026 target from 7,500 to 10,500 (+40%). SK Hynix's forward PER overtook Samsung's for the first time. S&P 7,501.24 (+0.77%) and NASDAQ 26,635.22 (+0.88%) notched fresh highs.

KOSPI 7,844 (+2.63%) hit record close despite KRW 2.7T foreign selling, defended by retail and institutions. Trump arrived in Beijing for Xi summit on trade, Iran, Taiwan. US markets shrugged off hot 6% PPI as S&P and Nasdaq hit new highs.

KOSPI 7,643 (-2.29%) pulled back as Samsung strike talks collapsed, with walkout set for 5/21. US fell on CPI 3.8% shock — S&P -0.6%, NASDAQ -0.9%. Google-SpaceX orbital data center talks reported.

KOSPI 7,822.24 (+4.32%) surged to intraday 7,899, triggering a sidecar halt. Samsung +6.3% and SK hynix +11.5% hit all-time highs; retail investors net bought KRW 2.9T. Trump rejected Iran's proposal, sending WTI +6% back to $100; US markets flat on oil concerns.

KOSPI was flat at 7,498.00 (+0.11%) but Samsung Electronics and SK hynix gained 2~3% to fresh highs. SK Securities raised Samsung's target to KRW 500K and SK hynix's to KRW 3M; Daishin and Goldman lifted KOSPI targets to 8,800 and 9,000. The NASDAQ closed at a new record (+1.21%).

KOSPI rose to 7,490.05 (+1.43%) for a second straight all-time high. US stocks took a small pullback from May 6 records as investors eyed Iran developments. USD/KRW dropped -2.0% to 1,444.45, accelerating won strength.

KOSPI 7,384.56 (+6.45%) smashed through 7,000 for the first time — Samsung +16% joins the $1T club. US-Iran deal imminent sent WTI -4.1% to $100; S&P 500 and NASDAQ hit fresh records. AMD +20% and ARM +23% surged.

KOSPI was closed for Children's Day (last close 6,936.99 held). US set fresh highs — S&P +0.81%, NASDAQ +1.03% — as AMD's Q1 triple beat (AH +5.5%) and an optical recovery reignited AI multiples. WTI fell -1.97% to $104.33 on Hormuz ceasefire progress.

KOSPI hit a record 6,936.99 (+5.12%) — SK Hynix +12.52% and Samsung +5.44% drove it close to 7,000. Meanwhile, UAE intercepting Iranian missiles lifted Middle East risk: S&P 500 -0.41%, Dow -1.13%, WTI +4.39% to $106.42.

US session closed April earnings season at fresh records — S&P 500 +0.29% and NASDAQ +0.89% to all-time highs. AAPL +3% and CAT's big beat carried the final leg. WTI fell -2.98% to $101.94 on Hormuz ceasefire optimism; KOSPI was closed for Labor Day.

S&P 500 cleared 7,200 (+1.0%) and closed April +5.5% — the best month since 2020 — while KOSPI gave back to 6,598.80 (-1.38%). AAPL Q2 was a big beat (+3.6% AH); Tim Cook explicitly guided "significantly higher memory costs next quarter." Memory pricing cycle has crossed from hyperscalers to device companies.

FOMC held 8-4, the most dissents since October 1992, while Big Tech earnings split sharply after the bell. GOOGL +4% (Cloud +63%, backlog $460B nearly doubled) was the cleanest beat; META -6.15% on FY26 CapEx +$10B was the deepest cut. MSFT/AMZN triple beats drifted lower on CapEx scale — ROI pressure overwhelmed every other narrative.

An OpenAI revenue-weakness report sparked a coordinated AI-chip sell-off (NVDA, AMD, AVGO), pulling Nasdaq -0.90% and S&P -0.49%. KOSPI closed at 6,641.02 (+0.39%), its first ever close above 6,600. After hours, BE surged +9.6% and STX jumped +13% — distributed datacenter power and AI storage cycles printed in tandem.

Monday's US session printed another record close — S&P 500 +0.12% and Nasdaq +0.20% to fresh highs. The session's biggest swing factor: Microsoft's exclusive partnership with OpenAI is ending — a structural AI infra power shift. KOSPI broke 6,600 for the first time at 6,615.03 (+2.15%), with total market cap crossing KRW 6,000 trillion.

A new week begins. Last week, the S&P 500 gained +0.55% and the Nasdaq rose +1.5%, while the SOXX semiconductor ETF is up +28.77% for April — its largest monthly gain in its 25-year history. The SOX index posted an 18-day consecutive gain, the longest streak ever recorded. Key events this week include Big Tech earnings in full swing (Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta) and whether US-Iran talks resume. If Pakistan-mediated second-round talks succeed, downward pressure on oil prices is expected; if they collapse, WTI may retest $100. KOSPI is up +26.4% for April, leading all G20 equity markets, with a tug-of-war expected between foreign profit-taking and further upside momentum.

A historic week comes to a close. Intel surged +23.65% on a Q1 earnings surprise (EPS $0.29 vs. est. $0.01), its best single-day gain since 1987. AMD and ARM each rallied +14% in sympathy. The SOX index extended its streak to 18 consecutive days of gains — the longest ever recorded — while chip ETFs SOXX and SMH saw a record $5.45 billion in April inflows. US markets hit fresh all-time highs: S&P 500 at 7,165.08 (+0.80%) and Nasdaq at 24,836.60 (+1.63%). KOSPI is up +26.4% for April, the #1 performer among G20 equity markets, while Nvidia's market cap reclaimed $5 trillion. The VIX fell to 18.71 (-3.11%), down 40% from its March peak of 31, as fear rapidly dissipates from markets.

KOSPI ended flat at 6,475.63 (0.00%), pausing a three-day record run as foreign investors net sold 1.95 trillion won ($1.31 billion). KOSDAQ, however, broke above 1,200 — its first close above the 1,200 mark since the 2000 dot-com era. US markets shook off the prior session's IBM/ServiceNow disappointment as Intel's blowout earnings reignited chip leadership and Nvidia retook the $5 trillion market cap, sending S&P 500 to 7,165.08 (+0.80%) and Nasdaq to 24,836.60 (+1.63%) — both fresh all-time highs. WTI crude edged up to $94.40 (+0.28%), notching a fifth straight gain but with momentum sharply slowing on news of restarted US-Iran talks in Pakistan. VIX fell to 18.84 (-0.95%), breaking decisively below the psychologically significant 19 threshold. USD/KRW extended its strength to 1,475.19 (-0.36%), and Bitcoin edged up to $78,126 (+0.41%), holding near the $80K level in a momentum-check zone.

SK Hynix posted record-breaking Q1 results: KRW 52.6 trillion in revenue, KRW 37.6 trillion in operating profit, and a stunning 72% operating margin — far surpassing TSMC's 58.1%. This marks a dramatic turnaround from -67% margin in Q1 2023 to +72% in just three years. KOSPI soared to an intraday high of 6,557.76, breaking through 6500 for the first time ever, before closing at 6,475.81 (+0.90%) for its third consecutive record. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) extended its streak to 16 consecutive days of gains — the longest on record since 1994 — surging 39% over the past month. However, U.S. markets pulled back on IBM and ServiceNow earnings disappointments and persistent Iran tensions: S&P 500 fell to 7,108.40 (-0.41%) and Nasdaq to 24,438.50 (-0.89%). WTI crude climbed to $94.14 (+1.85%), its fourth straight day of gains, as Iran's continued restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz weigh on supply concerns.

KOSPI surged to a record high of 6,417.93 (+0.46%), breaking through the 6400 level for the first time in history. President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the US-Iran ceasefire, sparking a global rally with S&P 500 hitting 7,117.81 (+0.76%) and Nasdaq reaching 24,657.57 (+1.64%) — both new all-time highs. The VIX dropped to 19.18 (-1.6%), falling nearly 38% from its late-March peak of 31, signaling a full return to risk-on sentiment. However, WTI crude rose to $92.43 (+3.08%) as Iran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while US naval blockades continue. USD/KRW edged up to 1,484.91 (+0.88%) but remained stable below 1,500. Bitcoin surged to $78,194 (+3.18%) — its highest since early February — on ceasefire optimism.

KOSPI surged to an all-time high of 6,388.47 (+2.72%), posting a 22.55% gain in April alone—the only major global market to rebound 20%+. Samsung Electronics (+2.1%) and SK Hynix (+4.97%) led the semiconductor-driven rally. Meanwhile, U.S. markets fell on ceasefire deadline jitters: S&P 500 closed at 7,064.01 (-0.63%) and Nasdaq at 24,259.96 (-0.59%). President Trump warned the U.S. military is 'ready to bomb' Iran if no deal is signed, and VP JD Vance's trip to join negotiations was paused due to Tehran's 'lack of commitment.' However, after market close, Trump announced the ceasefire would be extended until Iran submits a proposal, averting an imminent clash. VIX rose to 18.87 (+5.3%) as volatility concerns persisted, while USD/KRW strengthened to 1,472 (-0.5%).

The Nasdaq ended its 13-day winning streak (the longest since 1992) at 24,404.39 (-0.26%), while the S&P 500 slipped to 7,109.14 (-0.24%) as risk-off sentiment emerged following escalated U.S.-Iran tensions over the weekend. President Trump stated that extending the ceasefire beyond April 21 is 'unlikely' without a deal, while Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and reinstated passage controls, sending WTI surging 6.17% to $89.03. The U.S. Navy seized an Iranian vessel and fired on an Iran-linked ship in the Gulf of Oman, escalating the confrontation. KOSPI edged up to 6,219 (+0.44%) on continued foreign buying despite geopolitical risks, and the Russell 2000 hit a record high at 2,792.96 (+0.58%). VIX rose to 17.92 as volatility concerns grew.

The S&P 500 closed above 7,100 for the first time in history at 7,126.06 (+1.20%), while the Nasdaq surged to 24,468.48 (+1.52%) for its 13th consecutive daily gain—the longest winning streak since 1992. WTI crude collapsed -9.6% to $82.60, its lowest level since March 10, and Brent plunged -11.8% after Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ to commercial vessels for the duration of the ceasefire. President Trump welcomed the move but insisted the US Navy blockade of Iranian ports ‘remains in full force’ until a comprehensive peace deal is signed, with Washington and Tehran entering the final stretch of framework negotiations covering nuclear non-proliferation, $6B in frozen assets, and Hormuz transit fees ahead of the April 21 ceasefire expiration. KOSPI slipped to 6,191.92 (-0.55%) on profit-taking after a three-day rally, though US market strength and easing energy supply fears could fuel renewed foreign inflows in the next session, while the VIX fell to 17.2, extending the risk-on tone.

The S&P 500 hit a new record at 7,041.28 (+0.26%), while the Nasdaq rose to 24,102.70 (+0.36%), marking its 12th consecutive daily gain—the longest winning streak since 2009. TSMC reported a 58% surge in Q1 net profit (NT$572B), reaffirming strong AI chip demand, and raised its 2026 revenue guidance to 30%+ growth. KOSPI climbed to 6,226 (+2.21%), its highest in over a month, with foreign investors buying for a third straight day. WTI rebounded to $95 amid renewed uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations, while the VIX fell 1.2% to 18.0, indicating continued improvement in market sentiment.

The S&P 500 crossed the 7,000 threshold for the first time in history, closing at 7,022.95 (+0.80%). President Trump expressed confidence that the Iran war would end soon, fueling optimism for geopolitical risk easing. The Nasdaq also hit record highs, breaking through 24K to close at 24,016.02 (+2.12%), while KOSPI reclaimed the 6,000 level for the first time in a month, finishing at 6,091.39 (+2.07%) with SK Hynix (+5.87%) and SK Square (+10.34%) leading gains. Bitcoin climbed to $74,800 on $850M net inflows into spot ETFs. WTI stabilized around $93, easing energy inflation pressures, and VIX held flat at 18.22, signaling continued investor confidence.

Oil prices plunged after Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of East-West pipeline pumping capacity. WTI fell to $92, down -7% from the previous day, easing global inflation concerns and reviving risk appetite. KOSPI surged +3% to 5,960, leading Asian markets higher, while USD/KRW dropped to 1,470 as the won strengthened further. Bitcoin rallied +4.6% to $74,500, reflecting risk-on sentiment. U.S. equities finished strongly with S&P 500 +1.18% (6,967) and Nasdaq +1.44% (23,518), fully wiping out losses from the Iran war. VIX plunged to 18.2, signaling a significant reduction in market anxiety.

President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz immediately after Iran talks collapsed, sending WTI above $105 intraday before it settled back at $99.08 (+2.60%). However, U.S. equities rebounded on semiconductor and AI infrastructure strength. SanDisk (SNDK) jumped +7% on confirmed Nasdaq 100 inclusion on April 20, while Credo (CRDO) soared +12.8% on Jefferies' new Buy coverage with a $175 target. GPU rental leader CoreWeave (CRWV) also gained +8.1% on Meta $21B + Anthropic $6.8B contract momentum. S&P 500 rose +1.02% to 6,886.24, recovering to pre-war highs, and Nasdaq gained +1.23% to 23,183.74, extending the AI rally. Meanwhile, KOSPI fell -0.86% to 5,808.62 on Hormuz blockade risk, while Bitcoin jumped more than 5% to $74,485.

The U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad collapsed after a 21-hour marathon negotiation. VP Vance stated Iran's refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons development was the core reason, leaving a 'final and best offer' before returning to Washington. Iran's Tasnim news agency blamed 'excessive demands' and reported no plans for follow-up talks. All four key issues — nuclear program dismantlement, Strait of Hormuz reopening, cessation of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, and release of frozen funds — remained unresolved. With the April 22 ceasefire expiry approaching, risks of military escalation are rising. KOSPI rebounded +1.40% to 5,858.87, while S&P 500 (-0.11%) and Dow (-0.56%) dipped slightly but posted their best weekly gains since November (S&P +3.6%, NASDAQ +4.7%). Bitcoin hovered near $71,889 and VIX settled at 19.23.

March CPI came in at 3.3% YoY — the highest since April 2024 — but markets digested the data calmly. Gasoline prices surging +21.2% due to the Iran war drove headline inflation higher, while core CPI remained benign at +0.2% MoM / 2.6% YoY, keeping Fed rate cut expectations intact. Nasdaq (+0.35%, 22,902.89) edged higher, but S&P 500 (-0.11%, 6,816.89) and Dow (-0.56%, 47,916.57) ended their eight-day winning streak. Still, on a weekly basis, the S&P 500 gained +3.6% and Nasdaq +4.7% — the best week since November. VIX dropped below 20 to 19.49, its lowest since surging past 30 in March, with Fundstrat calling it the 'third sign the bottom is in.' KOSPI rose +1.40% to 5,858.87, rebounding after a single day of profit-taking. Bitcoin surged +6.84% to $72,998, testing the $73K level again. WTI eased to $95.63 (-2.29%) as ceasefire hopes kept oil prices stable.

Global markets traded mixed as uncertainty over the U.S.-Iran ceasefire resurfaced. With Tehran officially claiming ceasefire violations, WTI crude rebounded +3% to $97.87 after plunging -16% the previous day. U.S. equities extended their winning streak to seven consecutive sessions, though gains were modest. S&P 500 (+0.62%, 6,824.66) and Nasdaq (+0.83%, 22,822.42) edged higher, while the Dow (+0.58%, 48,185.80) finally turned positive for 2026 (+0.25% YTD). KOSPI closed down -1.61% at 5,778.01 as profit-taking emerged after the previous day's +6.87% surge. Bitcoin pulled back -1.64% to $68,322 after touching $72,000 on ceasefire euphoria. USD/KRW rose slightly to 1,480.71, though the won remains at its strongest level since March amid robust external fundamentals.

Global markets surged on news of a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire. President Trump announced a suspension of attacks on Iran for two weeks, providing relief from the five-week Middle East conflict. S&P 500 (+2.51%, 6,782.81) and Nasdaq (+2.80%, 22,635) soared, while the Dow (+2.85%, 47,909.92) posted its best single-day gain since April 2025. WTI crude plunged -16% to $94.41 — the biggest daily drop since April 2020 — significantly easing energy inflation concerns. KOSPI surged +6.87% to close at 5,872.34, with Samsung Electronics finally reclaiming the 200,000 won level. SK Hynix jumped +9.06% to 999,000 won, on the verge of reaching the '1 million won Hynix' milestone. However, uncertainty remains as Iran's parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf claimed the U.S. has already violated the ceasefire agreement.

Samsung Electronics reported Q1 2026 preliminary earnings with operating profit of 57.2 trillion won — an all-time record. Revenue reached 133 trillion won (YoY +85%) with an operating margin of 43%, nearly double the 2018 supercycle peak (23.6%). HBM4 mass production starting in February and explosive AI infrastructure demand drove the stellar results. KOSPI rose +0.82% to 5,494.78, with Samsung Electronics (+3.71%, 193,100 won) approaching the 200,000 won mark and SK Hynix (+1.14%) also gaining. U.S. markets closed mixed amid escalating Iran tensions, with S&P 500 (+0.08%), Nasdaq (+0.10%), while WTI surged to $116 — the highest since 2022 — reigniting energy inflation concerns.

KOSPI rose +1.36% to 5,450 led by institutional buying ahead of Samsung Electronics' Q1 preliminary earnings (April 7). Samsung surged +3.79% on expectations of 50T+ KRW operating profit surprise. Reports of U.S.-Iran 45-day ceasefire negotiations maintained end-of-war optimism. S&P 500 (+0.44%, 6,611) and Nasdaq (+0.54%, 21,996) edged higher on ceasefire hopes, though trading volume remained below average ahead of Tuesday's ultimatum deadline. Brent crude dipped to $110.82 (-$0.72) but held above $110, keeping inflation pressure intact.

With global markets closed for the Easter holiday weekend, the second session of the multilateral Hormuz Strait reopening summit (April 4) produced a 'phased reopening roadmap,' significantly strengthening ceasefire momentum. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement conditionally accepting the Muscat Protocol's maritime monitoring provisions, opening the possibility of extending the ceasefire to southern oil fields. Brent crude fell to $108.50 in Middle Eastern spot markets, raising prospects for a Monday gap-down, while Bitcoin edged up to around $67,300, confirming the $66,000 support level and stabilizing after its recent slide. Next week brings U.S. March CPI (April 10) and the start of earnings season with ASML (April 15) and TSMC (April 17), putting market conviction on inflation trajectory and AI infrastructure demand to the test.

With U.S. markets closed for Good Friday (NYSE and Nasdaq), Iran and Oman officially signed the 'Muscat Protocol' establishing a joint coordination center to monitor vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a wave of geopolitical risk relief. KOSPI surged +2.74% (5,377), recovering much of the previous session's -4.47% plunge, as foreign investors turned net buyers for the first time in 12 trading days. The U.S. March nonfarm payrolls came in at 178K, significantly beating the 135K consensus, confirming labor market resilience, while Brent crude remained elevated at $112.42.

President Trump's primetime address on the Iran war shattered ceasefire hopes, vowing to 'strike Iran extremely hard over the next 2-3 weeks' and threatening to send the country 'back to the Stone Age.' Brent crude surged to $107.85 (+5.2%), and a multilateral summit on reopening the Strait of Hormuz (35-40 nations) convened but ended its first session without concrete agreement. KOSPI initially broke above 5,500 continuing the prior day's rally, but crashed within 45 minutes of Trump's speech, closing at 5,234 (-4.47%). The S&P 500 (+0.11%, 6,582) and Nasdaq (+0.18%, 21,879) recovered from morning lows to close flat ahead of Good Friday.

Q2 2026 opened with a historic bang as President Trump's statement that 'military operations against Iran could be wrapped up in 2-3 weeks' ignited ceasefire euphoria. KOSPI exploded +8.44% to 5,478.70, triggering the buy-side sidecar for program trading. Institutions bought a record 4.03 trillion won net, fully recouping the four-day plunge in a single session. Samsung Electronics surged +13.40% and SK Hynix soared +10.66%, both posting double-digit gains. Brent crude eased from $108 to $102.50 as Iran's 48-hour ultimatum deadline approached, fueling hopes for diplomatic resolution.