South Korean stocks opened higher on Friday, extending the previous session's strong rally due to technology stock gains and tracking overnight advances on Wall Street amid increasing hopes for a resolution between the U.S. and Iran.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 0.7%, or 57.53 points, to open at 7,873.12. The Kosdaq also increased 1.2%, or 13.46 points, to open at 1,119.43.
Despite the optimism, U.S. crude futures rose more than $1 in early Friday trading as investors somewhat remained skeptical about the possibilities of a breakthrough in the ongoing peace talks. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed as high as $98 a barrel and was last up $1.20, or 1.3%, at $97.55 as of 22:28 GMT, after declining about 2% in the previous session to its lowest close in nearly two weeks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were "some good signs" emerging from mediated peace talks with Iran, but warned that President Donald Trump has made clear the U.S. has "other options" if negotiations fail. An undisclosed "senior Iranian source" told Reuters that no peace agreement has been reached with the U.S., but the differences have definitely been narrowed.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said 31 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours under its coordination.