The benchmark KOSPI climbed 2.50% to close at 3,941 on Friday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses and reaching record highs as major technology and financial stocks led the advance. Tech heavyweights drove the gains, with Samsung Electronics rising 1.87% and SK Hynix surging 5.85%, while financials such as KB Financial (0.09%) and Shinhan Financial (1.09%) also added support. Market sentiment improved as easing US–China tensions lifted hopes for trade progress ahead of Vice Premier He Lifeng’s meetings with US officials in Malaysia during the ASEAN summit to discuss trade and rare earth exports. Domestically, South Korea and the US made progress in recent trade talks, and officials remain hopeful of narrowing remaining differences, Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom said Friday after meetings in Washington. He added that with the APEC summit nearing, further progress could still be achieved in the final stretch.