Seoul, April 8 – South Korean stocks surged on Wednesday morning as the United States and Iran reached an agreement on a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 326.12 points, or 5.94 percent, to 5,820.9 as of 11:20 a.m. (local time), according to Yonhap news agency.
The stock exchange operator temporarily halted program-driven buy orders in KOSPI futures earlier in the session.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks if Tehran agrees to the "complete, immediate and safe opening" of the crucial strait.
In response, Iran's foreign ministry released a statement accepting the ceasefire proposal, noting that "safe passage" through the crucial waterway "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics surged 7.12 percent, and chip giant SK Hynix soared 9.5 percent.
Construction companies traded higher on potential reconstruction opportunities in Iran, with Daewoo Engineering & Construction rising 27.95 percent and Hyundai Engineering & Construction increasing 13.34 percent.
Oil refiners lost ground as global crude prices fell sharply following the ceasefire, with SK Innovation losing 2.96 percent and S-Oil sliding 2 percent.
Defense stocks were also among the losers, with Hanwha Aerospace moving down 5.14 percent and Hyundai Rotem surrendering 3.32 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,478.8 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., up 25.4 won from the previous session.
Meanwhile, the government vowed efforts to help South Korean vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz to safely pass through the shipping route after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the full reopening of the crucial passage for oil.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources will cooperate with the foreign and oceans ministries to ensure the safe and swift passage of Korean oil tankers tied up at the Hormuz strait, officials said.
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