▲ Traders work inside the dealing room in Hana Bank in central Seoul on April 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) stocks-open

(LEAD) Seoul stocks open sharply higher ahead of U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline

(ATTN: CHANGES data in para 2; UPDATES throughout with more details)

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on Tuesday ahead of the deadline for a two-week ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran war.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 123.67 points, or 1.99 percent, to 6,342.76 as of 9:23 a.m., on pace to break another record.

The previous high was on Feb. 26, when the index closed at 6,307.27 points.

Overnight, major stock indexes on Wall Street closed lower, with the S&P500 inching down 0.24 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq falling 0.26 percent.

Investors are keeping a close eye on the Middle East situation, with the deadline for the ceasefire nearing.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire will end on "Wednesday evening Washington time," adding that it would be "highly unlikely" he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then.

Iran's foreign ministry, however, said there were no plans for talks "as of now."

"While the U.S.-Iran issue remains important, the market appears to be looking for direction based on corporate earnings," said Seo Seong-yong, an analyst from Mirae Asset Securities.

Most large-cap shares were trading higher.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 2.1 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix advanced 3.86 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.9 percent, defense giant Hanwha Aerospace inched up 0.07 percent, and battery maker LG Energy Solution jumped 8.28 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,471.5 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.7 won from the previous session.

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