FX.co ★ South Korea Shares Tipped To Open In The Green

The South Korean stock market has experienced growth over two consecutive sessions, gaining almost 100 points or 3.9 percent in that time. The KOSPI currently stands slightly above a 2,750-point plateau, and is projected to continue this positive trend into Friday.

Internationally, the market forecast for Asia is positive, fueled by optimism concerning the future of interest rates. Markets in both Europe and the U.S. have seen increases, and it is predicted that Asian markets will follow this pattern.

On Thursday, the KOSPI closed significantly higher, with an increase seen across the board, but especially within financial shares and technology stocks. That day saw the index increase by 64.72 points or 2.41 percent, closing at 2,754.86 after trade fluctuations between 2,724.25 and 2,755.45. The day's trade volume was 811.8 million shares, amounting to worth 13.8 trillion won. The market saw 655 gainers with only 217 decliners.

Off the active list, shares such as Shinhan Financial shot up by 4.30 percent, KB Financial by 3.12 percent, and Hana Financial by 3.06 percent. Samsung Electronics rose by 3.12 percent, LG Electronics by 3.33 percent, and SK Hynix witnessed a rapid increase of 8.63 percent. Elsewhere, Hyundai Mobis surged by 5.14 percent and Hyundai Motor by 4.56 percent.

Wall Street suggests a slight upward trend, with averages opening modestly higher on Thursday, remaining in the green throughout, and concluding with a fresh record closing high.

The Dow concluded its day with a rally of 269.24 points or 0.68 percent at 39,781.37. The NASDAQ added 32.43 points or 0.20 percent to close at 16,401.84, and the S&P 500 gained 16.91 points or 0.32 percent to finish at 5,241.53.

The gains on Wall Street have been credited to a warm reaction to Wednesday's Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement. Although interest rates remained unchanged, the central bank has maintained its prediction of three interest rate cuts this year.

In other U.S. economic news, the Labor Department reported a slight decrease in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, and unexpectedly high existing home sales in February, according to the National Association of Realtors.

On the commodities front, crude oil futures ended lower on Thursday due to a strengthening dollar and a dip in U.S. gasoline demand. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for May dipped $0.20 to settle at $81.07 a barrel.