The benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.9% to around 3,930 on Wednesday, marking a second straight session of gains amid expectations of a near-term US rate cut. Investors followed Wall Street's extended rally overnight, where optimism grew that the Federal Reserve is moving closer to easing policy in December. At the same time, the Bank of Korea’s latest survey showed business confidence at its strongest level in more than a year, with both manufacturing activity and consumer-facing sectors continuing to gain traction. This improved backdrop for risk assets helped lift Korean tech heavyweights, with chip-related names benefiting from firm global demand and steady strength across the local semiconductor supply chain. Samsung Electronics rose 0.3%, LG Energy Solution advanced 2.3%, Hyundai Motor picked up 1.2%, KB Financial Group added 0.9%, Shinhan Financial Group increased 1.2%, Kia Corporation edged higher 0.5%, and Celltrion climbed 3.0%.