Asia markets rally, Kospi hits record high

February 19, 2026 (MLN): Asia markets advanced on Thursday, led by a sharp rally in South Korea, as investors took cues from overnight gains on Wall Street while several regional exchanges resumed trading after the Lunar New Year holidays.

In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI surged 2.76% to close at a fresh all-time high, driven by strong buying in heavyweight technology stocks. Shares of Samsung Electronics climbed 4.14%, while chipmaker SK Hynix gained 1.48%, boosting overall market momentum.

The small-cap KOSDAQ index also moved higher, rising 0.59%.

Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.1% in early trading, showing improved risk appetite among investors. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 added 0.52%, while the broader Topix edged up 0.39%.

Markets in Hong Kong and mainland China remained closed in observance of the Lunar New Year holiday, limiting broader regional participation.

The positive momentum followed a constructive session in the United States overnight.

The S&P 500 rose 0.56% to finish at 6,881.31, supported by gains in major technology stocks, as investors assessed minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.78% to 22,753.63, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.26% to close at 49,662.66, according to CNBC.

The rally across global equities highlights renewed investor confidence, particularly in technology-driven markets, as traders continue to monitor monetary policy signals and corporate earnings trends.

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