The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.05% to around 3,379 on Friday, marking its eighth straight session of gains, as technology and semiconductor stocks led the rally in step with overnight Wall Street gains. Investor confidence was buoyed by the latest US CPI report, which showed inflation cooling more than expected, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may hold off on further rate hikes and potentially shift toward policy easing later this year. On the domestic front, President Lee Jae Myung scrapped plans to revise the capital gains tax on stock investments, saying the move risked undermining the market. The proposal to lower the threshold for 'large shareholders' had sparked backlash from retail investors, and its withdrawal eased policy uncertainty, adding support to equities. Gains were seen from Kakao Corporation (6.51%), SK Hynix (4.40%), and Samsung Electronics (1.91%), while Kia Corporation (-1.03%) and Hyundai Motor (-0.67%) posted losses.