(2nd LD) Seoul shares close at fresh peak above 9,100 on chip gains amid U.S.-Iran talks

Lead

South Korean stocks finished at a record high on Monday, as a continued rally in semiconductor shares and positive signals from U.S.-Iran negotiations lifted the market, according to multiple reports from Yonhap News Agency.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 9,114.55, up 62.13 points, or 0.69 percent, after touching an intraday high of 9,253.00, as reported by three of the four Yonhap dispatches reviewed. Earlier in the session, the index had been trading higher at 9,145.79, up 1.03 percent as of 11:20 a.m., according to a separate report. The index opened 1.08 percent lower before reversing course as chip stocks gained momentum.

Coverage comparison

All four reports from Yonhap, South Korea's leading wire service, focused on the same core elements: the KOSPI's record close, the semiconductor-led rally, and the market's reaction to diplomatic developments between Washington and Tehran. Three of the four reports emphasized that progress in U.S.-Iran talks contributed to the positive sentiment, while one morning dispatch highlighted that an extended rally in semiconductor shares offset concerns over the negotiations.

The closing figure of 9,114.55 was confirmed by three reports, while a single mid-morning report cited the index at 9,145.79, reflecting the evolving picture during the trading session. The reports also differed slightly on exchange rate data: one stated the Korean won traded at 1,538.3 won against the dollar as of 11:20 a.m., while another mentioned the won had lost ground against the dollar without providing a specific rate.

Key claims

• The KOSPI added 62.13 points, or 0.69 percent, to close at 9,114.55, after rising as high as 9,253.00, according to three of the four reports.
• Trade volume was moderate at 377.2 million shares worth 41.4 trillion won (approximately US$26.9 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 739 to 148, as reported in three dispatches.
• Retail investors and institutions were net buyers, purchasing 2.15 trillion won and 308.4 billion won, respectively, while foreign investors sold a net 2.55 trillion won, per three reports.
• On Sunday, Washington and Tehran wrapped up their first talks and agreed on a road map to reach a final deal within 60 days, according to a statement issued by the mediating countries of Qatar and Pakistan, as reported by three sources.
• Chip giant SK hynix jumped 5.61 percent to 2.92 million won, surpassing Samsung Electronics in terms of market capitalization for the first time, according to a single report.
• Samsung Electronics rose 0.71 percent, and SK hynix jumped 4.67 percent in the morning session, as cited in a single dispatch.
• The Korean won was trading at 1,538.3 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 10.8 won from the previous session, per one report.

Perspectives

The reports frame the day's market performance as a positive development, noting that the index reached an "all-time high" or "fresh all-time high" despite a lower opening. Analyst Kang Jin-hyeok from Shinhan Securities was quoted in three reports as saying, "Negotiations went smoothly in general despite some aggressive messages, which were considered short-lived noises." This suggests that market participants viewed the U.S.-Iran talks as constructive, even amid earlier concerns about a breakdown.

One mid-morning report noted that investor sentiment had been weighed down by overnight news reports that Washington-Tehran talks in Switzerland were halted after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran amid ongoing clashes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. However, the same report emphasized that strong gains in semiconductor-related shares supported the turnaround.

Other individual stock moves included SK Square, the parent of SK hynix, surging 10.67 percent, and Hanmi Semiconductor gaining 2.2 percent, as reported in some dispatches. Defense-related stocks such as Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries also advanced, though details varied slightly between reports.

A single report also noted that the local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar, with the won trading at 1,538.3 per dollar as of mid-morning, down 10.8 won from the previous session.