Seoul stocks sharply up late Tue. morning, poised for new record high

▲ Traders work inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on April 21, 2026. (Yonhap)

stocks-morning

Seoul stocks sharply up late Tue. morning, poised for new record high

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks were trading sharply higher late Tuesday morning, on track to set a new record high, as investors pinned hopes on progress in the U.S.-Iran peace talks and remained bullish over corporate earnings.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 124.48 points, or 2 percent, to 6,343.57 as of 11:20 a.m.

The index bucked overnight declines on Wall Street amid the looming deadline of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire will end "Wednesday evening Washington time," while signaling that an extension is "unlikely."

Tehran said it has no plans for talks.

In Seoul, most market heavyweights were trading higher.

Chip giant Samsung Electronics added 1.17 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix rose 4.12 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor moved up 2.28 percent, while defense giant Hanwha Aerospace declined 1.61 percent and bio firm Samsung Biologics retreated 0.56 percent.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,472.1 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.1 won from the previous session.

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