HONG KONG — Stock markets in Japan and South Korea hit fresh record highs on June 1, 2026. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained more than 1.3% and crossed the 67,000 mark for the first time, closing at 67,231.28.
South Korea’s Kospi index jumped nearly 5% on the same day, reaching an all-time high of 8,874.16. South Korea’s exports surged 53% year-on-year in May, according to official data, driven by global demand for semiconductors.
Major technology and industrial firms led the rally in both markets. Shares of SoftBank Group rose more than 9% in Tokyo trading. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics climbed more than 9%.
The gains extended strong momentum from the prior month. The Nikkei 225 was up more than 12% over the past 30 days, while the Kospi soared over 27% during the same period.
Currency markets also saw movement alongside the equity rally. The U.S. dollar rose to 159.48 Japanese yen on June 1, up from 159.25 yen the previous session.
Market activity reflected heightened investor interest in export-oriented firms following South Korea’s strong trade figures. Japan’s Ministry of Finance reported increased capital inflows into domestic equities during May. Trading volumes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange exceeded the 30-day average by 18% on June 1.
South Korean financial regulators confirmed that foreign investment in Kospi-listed companies rose to a six-month high in the week ending May 30. The Financial Supervisory Service noted that semiconductor manufacturers accounted for more than 40% of total foreign purchases during the period.