South Korean stocks rose Tuesday on revived hopes for a US Federal Reserve rate cut and eased concerns over AI valuations. The KOSPI index surged at open but moderated to a 0.96% gain by late morning. Tech and defense shares led the advances.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Seoul's stock market opened higher amid revived expectations for a US Federal Reserve rate cut and reduced concerns over inflated AI valuations. The benchmark KOSPI index added 64.02 points, or 1.66 percent, to 3,910.08 in the first 15 minutes of trading. This followed overnight gains on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.44 percent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.69 percent, buoyed by dovish comments from Fed members.
By 11:20 a.m., the KOSPI had climbed 36.91 points, or 0.96 percent, to 3,882.97. Tech and defense shares drove the upbeat sentiment, with Samsung Electronics up 2.59 percent after an initial 3.1 percent gain at open. Its rival SK hynix advanced 1.73 percent from an early 3.27 percent rise. Defense firm Hanwha Aerospace increased 1.4 percent, while Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) soared 6.26 percent. KB Financial Group, a major bank, rose 1.75 percent, and energy company Doosan Enerbility climbed 1.93 percent. At open, Hyundai Motor gained 0.87 percent, LG Energy Solution 1.09 percent, Shinhan Financial Group 2.62 percent, and Celltrion 1.21 percent.
The local currency traded at 1,472 won per US dollar at 11:20 a.m., up 5.2 won from the previous session, after being at 1,475.4 won, up 1.8 won, at 9:15 a.m. The rally reflects positive spillover from US markets.
