Kospi (KOSPI) Surges Nearly 31% in Best Month Since 1998

AI Summary

South Korea's Kospi index increased nearly 31% in March 2026, marking its strongest monthly gain since January 1998. The surge was driven by tech stocks, particularly semiconductor firms SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, which rose by 60% and 35%, respectively. Despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, optimism in the AI sector and a positive upgrade from HSBC on South Korea's market positioning contributed to this trend. The index faced a slight decline of 1.38% due to rising oil prices after U.S. military action concerns, closing at 6,598.8.