The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.1% to around 4,153 on Thursday, trading in a narrow range amid improved global risk sentiment and optimism over foreign investor interest in Korean equities. Market mood was lifted after the Dow Jones closed at a record high and the US Congress passed a bill to reopen the government, easing concerns over fiscal disruption. Remarks from a New York Stock Exchange official on sustained overseas interest in Korean firms also supported confidence in the market outlook. Among major movers, Samsung Electronics gained 0.2%, Doosan Enerbility added 1.5%, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 0.9%, while SK Hynix (-0.5%), LG Energy Solution (-0.3%), and Hyundai Motor (-0.4%) declined. Meanwhile, Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong maintained a cautious tone on potential policy easing, noting that future rate cuts would depend on economic data. Trading began an hour later than usual due to the nationwide college entrance exams.