[Good Morning Market] Middle East Negotiation Hopes and Samsung's Record Earnings Signal Rise for Korean Stocks

U.S. Stock Market Rises One Day Before Final Ultimatum to Iran

Samsung Electronics Reports Record-Breaking Earnings

U.S. stock markets posted modest gains ahead of Washington’s deadline for its final ultimatum to Iran. Analysts in the securities industry predicted that, buoyed by the strong performance of U.S. semiconductor stocks and Samsung Electronics’ record-breaking earnings, the Korean stock market would also start higher.

On the 6th (local time) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 46,669.88, up 165.21 points (0.3%) from the previous session. The S&P 500 index rose by 29.14 points (0.4%) to 6,611.83, and the Nasdaq index finished at 21,996.33, up 117.15 points (0.5%). In particular, semiconductor stocks such as Micron (+3.2%) and Sandisk (+3.3%) showed strong gains.

On the 18th, buoyed by a rebound in the US stock market, the KOSPI index rose for the third consecutive trading day, recovering the 5700 level. The status of the domestic stock market is displayed on the electronic board of Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2026.3.18 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

With the U.S. deadline for its 'final ultimatum' set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the 7th (9 a.m. on the 8th in Korea), it was reported that both the U.S. and Iran had received a two-stage ceasefire proposal prepared by mediating countries. The plan consists of a first-stage 45-day ceasefire, followed by a second-stage proposal to end the war. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that, "Although it is not sufficient, it is a very important proposal." However, Iran once again emphasized its position that it cannot accept a temporary ceasefire.

Suh Sangyoung, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, explained, "The fact that the U.S. has begun actual preparations for an attack, such as reviewing a list of Iranian energy targets, and mentioned in an additional press briefing that it could subdue all of Iran within a day—possibly as soon as tomorrow night—is a source of concern. However, as the U.S. claimed that negotiations were nearing a conclusion, the U.S. stock market rebounded again." He further commented, "Unlike in the past, changes triggered by the Iran conflict have become more limited, and there is a growing tendency to focus more on macroeconomic factors and corporate earnings."

Despite ongoing uncertainty in the negotiations, the outlook is that the domestic stock market will rise, partly due to the semiconductor-driven gains in U.S. markets. Han Jiyeong, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, said, "The domestic stock market is expected to open higher, supported by the strong performance of U.S. semiconductor stocks and expectations for improved earnings momentum after the results season." She added, "Intraday, news flow related to the war will impact the market through oil prices, and this could lead to increased volatility on an hourly basis. Therefore, it is advisable to maintain a slow trading tempo during the session."

The impact of Samsung Electronics’ “earnings surprise” on the domestic market also warrants attention. Before the market opened on this day, Samsung Electronics announced via regulatory filing that its preliminary first-quarter operating profit was KRW 57.2 trillion, with sales of KRW 133 trillion.

Han further noted, "If the KOSPI’s semiconductor-driven earnings momentum continues without disruption amid ongoing geopolitical risks, the domestic stock market’s resilience may improve faster than expected. Whether there is continuity in net foreign purchases centered on semiconductor stocks will also be a key point to watch regarding the market’s supply and demand dynamics after today."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.