South Korean Shares Open Higher After Trump Pauses 'Project Freedom' in Strait of Hormuz
South Korean shares opened higher on Wednesday, following the easing of Middle East tensions after US President Donald Trump halted the military operation "Project Freedom," which had escorted ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to reach an agreement with Iran.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 156.02 points, or 2.2%, to open at 7,093.01. The Kosdaq gained 0.6% to open at 1,220.90.Project Freedom had only been in effect since Monday.Several commercial ships were reportedly struck in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, and a UAE oil port caught fire following an Iranian attack, which marked the biggest escalation since a ceasefire was announced four weeks ago. Trump's naval operations in the Hormuz, which were aimed at securing shipping lanes, intensified tensions.In addition, Iraq stepped up diplomatic efforts as tensions rose between Iran and the US, with Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi saying he spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and offered Baghdad's support for mediation.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart on the China-Iran relationship, along with regional and global developments, his ministry said.
