The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.19% to close at 3,192 on Thursday, recovering from earlier losses amid improved investor sentiment. The rebound was supported by easing policy-related uncertainty after US President Donald Trump stated it was “highly unlikely” he would remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The clarification helped temper volatility sparked by speculation over a potential leadership change, contributing to modest stabilization in global equity markets. In the corporate sector, Samsung Electronics advanced 2.7% after a verdict upheld Chairman Jay Lee’s acquittal, ending a prolonged legal dispute tied to a 2015 merger. Conversely, SK Hynix fell 9.12% after semiconductor equipment maker ASML issued a cautious 2026 outlook, citing likely delays in US expansion by global chipmakers amid ongoing tariff uncertainty. Other notable gainers include Hanwha Aerospace (5.39%) and LG Energy Solution (1.61%), while Naver (-2.60%) and Doosan Enerbility (0.24%) posted significant losses.