SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) — Asian markets opened higher on Wednesday on expectations that U.S. tariff measures would be applied more selectively following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, but their gains were eclipsed by the KOSPI’s staggering rally.
Seoul’s main-board index surged past the 6,000-point mark at the opening bell, lifted by heavyweight technology shares as concerns over artificial intelligence-related disruptions eased.
As of 11:10 a.m., the KOSPI was up 2.06 percent at 6,092, extending gains to more than 14.3 percent this month and over 42 percent so far this year, according to data from the Financial Supervisory Service.
Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 1.75 percent to a record 203,500 won, while SK hynix added 2.59 percent to 1,031,000 won, helping propel the broader market higher.
The advance followed a rebound on Wall Street, driven by fresh developments in artificial intelligence that helped ease concerns over disruption in the software sector.
Meta Platforms said it would deploy a large volume of graphics processing units from Advanced Micro Devices to expand its AI data centers, boosting sentiment toward high-bandwidth memory suppliers such as SK hynix and Samsung Electronics.
Investor confidence was further supported by expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady in March. Meanwhile, the Cboe Volatility Index, often referred to as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” declined, signaling reduced market anxiety.
The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 0.26 percent to 1,168.06.
The won strengthened as AI-related concerns eased and optimism over U.S.-Iran nuclear talks reduced risk-off sentiment, with the dollar slipping 1.60 won to 1,440.90.
Individual investors were net buyers of 922.9 billion won ($640 million), while foreign and institutional investors sold a net 651.9 billion won and 329.8 billion won, respectively.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service, foreign investors have remained net sellers this year, unloading about 13.8 trillion won in February and roughly 17.3 trillion won over the first two months, suggesting the rally has been largely driven by domestic capital.
Autos and non-chip stocks mixed
Non-chip large-cap stocks showed mixed moves. Auto shares rallied after Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to invest 10 trillion won over the next five years in the Saemangeum region, focusing on data centers and robotics production facilities.
Markets viewed the move as signaling a strategic shift toward physical AI and advanced manufacturing.
Hyundai Motor jumped 9.73 percent, while Kia surged 13.56 percent to 197,800 won.
SK Square rose 3.08 percent to 636,000 won, and Samsung Life Insurance gained 2.23 percent to 229,000 won.
Samsung Biologics slipped 0.06 percent to 1,722,000 won, while LG Energy Solution climbed 0.73 percent to 415,500 won.
In defense and aerospace, Hanwha Aerospace fell 2.34 percent to 1,212,000 won. Shipbuilders also retreated, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 0.34 percent and Hanwha Ocean slipping 0.42 percent.
Entertainment shares extended losses amid heavy upfront investment and restructuring costs, with HYBE, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment all trading lower.
Asia mostly higher
Elsewhere in Asia, markets traded mostly higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 1.35 percent to 58,097.01, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.22 percent.
Chinese stocks also extended gains on expectations that recent U.S. tariff revisions could work in China’s favor.
The optimism followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down former President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Although a new 15 percent global tariff was introduced, China is expected to face a relatively lower effective rate.
Goldman Sachs estimates the changes could reduce the average U.S. tariff on Chinese goods by about five percentage points.
Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China kept its benchmark loan prime rates unchanged for a ninth consecutive month, with the one-year rate at 3.0 percent and the five-year rate at 3.5 percent.
As of Wednesday morning, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.29 percent to 4,129.48.
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