**Seoul=Newsis** Reporter Park Ju-sung – On the morning of the 15th, dealers are working in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. The KOSPI opened at 3,580.64, up 18.83 points (0.53%) from the previous trading day (3,561.81), and the KOSDAQ index started trading at 853.17, up 5.21 points (0.61%) from the previous trading day (847.96). In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate started at 1,429.1 won, down 1.9 won from the weekly closing price of the previous trading day (1,431.0 won). **October 15, 2025** [email protected] / Photo=
The KOSPI index surpassed the 3,650 level during trading on the 15th, hitting an all-time high. With U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinting at the suspension of quantitative tightening, buying pressure was led by institutions. This is in contrast to the mixed closing of the U.S. New York stock market. Overseas institutions have raised the possibility of reaching 4,200 in terms of Korea’s stock market growth potential.
As of 2:39 PM that day, the KOSPI index was trading at 3,649.28, up 2.46% from the previous day. At one point, it rose to 3,653.57, surpassing the intraday record high of 3,646.77 set the previous day.
While individuals are net selling 765.6 billion won, foreigners and institutions are net buying 30.7 billion won and 697.2 billion won, respectively.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Electronics (+3.60%), SK Hynix (+2.25%), LG Energy Solution (+0.26%), Samsung Biologics (+9.44%), Samsung Electronics preferred shares (+2.21%), Doosan Enerbility (+8.05%), Hanwha Aerospace (+1.50%), Hyundai Motor (+0.34%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (+2.42%), and KB Financial (+4.24%) were all showing upward trends.
Global investment bank Morgan Stanley analyzed on the 13th (local time) that the KOSPI could rise to 4,200 as the supercycle of structurally growing industries such as semiconductors, defense, and K-culture progresses, coupled with government reform drives.
They stated that short-term corrections during the re-ignition of U.S.-China trade tensions could be buying opportunities. Morgan Stanley said, “The structural growth story continues, writing new history for the KOSPI,” and added, “In the short term, there are possibilities of adjustment due to intensified trade tensions, concerns about a U.S. shutdown, and won depreciation.”
On the 14th, during a speech at the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) in Philadelphia, Powell stated, “We plan to stop reducing the balance sheet (quantitative tightening) when we determine that the level of reserves within the banking system is ample,” and forecasted that “this point could come in a few months.”
The U.S. New York stock market initially started with a sharp 1% drop due to renewed U.S.-China tensions from sanctions on Chinese shipbuilders but turned upward during intraday trading following dovish remarks from Fed Chair Powell. However, the market faced downward pressure again towards the end of the session due to news that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering banning imports of edible oil products from China, resulting in a mixed closing.