South Korean stocks closed higher for the second straight session as investors hunted bargains amid volatility from the U.S.-Iran war. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 77.36 points, or 1.4 percent, to 5,609.95. The Korean won strengthened 2.7 won against the U.S. dollar to 1,466.5.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, South Korean stocks finished higher for the second consecutive session as investors sought bargains amid market volatility triggered by the U.S.-Iran war. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 77.36 points, or 1.4 percent, to close at 5,609.95 after reaching an intraday high of 5,746.36. Trading volume was robust at 1 billion shares valued at 26.3 trillion won ($17.9 billion), with 701 gainers outnumbering 198 losers.
Individual investors net sold 508 billion won, and foreigners offloaded 255.4 billion won, while institutions bought a net 781 billion won to support the market. The market had dipped 5.96 percent on Monday and rebounded 5.35 percent on Tuesday due to the escalating Middle East crisis. Investors focused on blue-chip shares while monitoring the Strait of Hormuz, where ship passages have been virtually suspended amid the conflict. The strait handles about 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.
The KOSPI had hit a record high of 6,307.27 on February 26, surging from 4,309.63 at the start of 2026, driven by chipmakers amid the global AI boom, before volatility intensified from the U.S.-Iran conflict. "Amid lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the stock market is gradually recovering from such issues," said Lee Kyoung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities.
Top tech firms advanced, with Samsung Electronics up 1.12 percent to 190,000 won and SK hynix gaining 1.81 percent to 955,000 won. Brokerages rallied, including Mirae Asset Securities up 10.53 percent to 71,400 won and Kiwoom Securities climbing 5.51 percent to 450,000 won. Battery makers were mixed: LG Energy Solution rose 0.65 percent to 369,500 won, while Samsung SDI fell 0.87 percent to 400,000 won. Pharmaceuticals strengthened, with Samsung Biologics up 4.08 percent to 1,657,000 won and Celltrion advancing 1.46 percent to 209,000 won.
The Korean won rose 2.7 won to 1,466.5 against the dollar, buoyed by easing oil prices and a weaker greenback. Bond yields declined, with the three-year Treasury falling 3 basis points to 3.253 percent and the five-year note dropping 3.8 basis points to 3.47 percent. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of unprecedented military consequences if Iran had laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
