South Korean equities advanced to unprecedented levels on Monday, outperforming regional peers amid continued uncertainty over U.S.-Iran diplomatic developments. Persistent ambiguity around negotiations, underscored by President Donald Trump’s remarks about the pace of discussions, kept broader Asia-Pacific markets mixed.
As of 9:32 local time in Bangkok, the Kospi surged 4.36% to 8,845 points, recording an all-time high. Japanese markets delivered scattered results, with the Nikkei 225 rising 1%, while the Topix declined 0.22%. Across Australia, the ASX 200 registered a decline of 0.15%.
In Hong Kong, the market rose 0.67% and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.54%.
On the geopolitical front, President Trump stated in a televised interview that the U.S. remains focused on reaching an agreement with Iran that would prevent nuclear capabilities, but emphasized that there is “no hurry” to conclude a deal.
