ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index surged to a new all-time high on Tuesday, driven by strong gains in technology shares and robust foreign investor inflows. The index jumped as much as 2.1%, reaching a record 3,893.06 points before trimming gains to trade 0.7% higher at 03:49 GMT. With nearly a 12% rise in October alone, the KOSPI continues to showcase investor optimism and global interest in Korea’s tech-heavy market.
Leading the rally were chip-making giants Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) and SK Hynix (KS:000660), both benefiting from the ongoing global AI-driven memory chip boom. Samsung shares climbed as much as 2% to hit an all-time peak, while SK Hynix soared up to 3.4%, marking its highest level in over 25 years. Although both stocks later pared some of their early gains, they remain standout performers in the Asian market, reflecting the growing global demand for advanced semiconductors.
Investor sentiment was further supported by hopes of a potential trade deal between South Korea and the United States, which could strengthen bilateral economic ties. Additionally, a weaker Korean won boosted the export competitiveness of Korean companies, adding momentum to the rally.
Analysts attribute the sharp rise in the KOSPI to a combination of foreign capital inflows, AI-related tech optimism, and a favorable export environment. As global investors increase their exposure to the Korean market, expectations remain high for continued growth in the technology and semiconductor sectors, positioning South Korea as a major beneficiary of the worldwide artificial intelligence and chip manufacturing boom.
