FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Extend Gains

The benchmark KOSPI inched up to around 6,755 on Thursday, extending the previous session’s gains as investors viewed the latest Federal Reserve rate hike as largely priced in. The Fed lifted its policy rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75%-4.00%—its first increase since 2023—and signaled the possibility of another hike later this year.

The move widened the interest rate gap between the US and South Korea to as much as 1 percentage point. However, Korean authorities indicated that the market impact should be limited, noting that the decision had already been reflected in asset prices.

Sentiment was further supported by easing oil prices after the US announced that Saudi Arabia’s damaged East–West pipeline could resume operations within days, tempering inflation worries that had intensified with the recent surge in crude. Meanwhile, the stabilization of global AI and semiconductor stocks helped boost domestic technology names following recent pullbacks, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both edging higher.

Other notable gainers included KB Financial Group (up 2.0%), Doosan Enerbility (2.3%), Hanwha Aerospace (2.9%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (6.9%).