Korean Kospi Hits Record, Asian Stock Markets Open Uniformly in the Green

Asian-Pacific stock markets opened stronger on Wednesday (6/5/2026), with major indices recording gains, following the rally on Wall Street overnight amid falling oil prices and strong corporate profit performance. South Korea’s Kospi index even touched a new all-time high, reflecting investor optimism in the region.

Citing CNBC International, US President Donald Trump stated that diplomatic efforts to resolve the Middle East crisis are showing progress, with the United States temporarily halting escort missions for ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He described the move as providing space for finalising an agreement, although the blockade remains in place.

The US military’s previous “Project Freedom” programme escorted commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said two US commercial ships, along with a destroyer, had successfully traversed the route safely.

Global oil prices weakened following these developments, with West Texas Intermediate falling 1.96% to US$100.27 per barrel and Brent dropping 1.27% to US$108.48 per barrel. This decline in energy prices further bolstered positive sentiment in global stock markets.

In Asia, the Kospi surged 4.50% to a new high after the holiday, extending its rally of more than 70% year-to-date. Leading stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose more than 8% and 9% respectively, while the Kosdaq index dipped slightly by 0.15%.

Australia’s market also strengthened, with the S&P/ASX 200 index up 0.58%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures were below the previous close. Trading in Japan was closed for a national holiday.

On Wall Street, major indices set new records in the previous session, with the S&P 500 rising 0.81% to 7,259.22 and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.03% to 25,326.13. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 356.35 points or 0.73% to 49,298.25.