Global Stock Market Trends — 2026-04-21

🇺🇸 U.S. Markets

※ U.S. market data for April 21 (Mon) still being compiled. Only major direction confirmed.

Key Takeaways

• Over the weekend, U.S. forces seized an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, raising uncertainty about whether the U.S.-Iran 2-week ceasefire would be extended. This triggered early weakness as markets reassessed geopolitical risk.
• News of Apple CEO Tim Cook's replacement also weighed on investor sentiment, though futures markets attempted a modest rebound.
• After three consecutive weeks of gains and record highs, major indexes are showing some pullback. This week is shaping up as a major earnings week with 90 companies set to report.

1 sources

reuters.com

reuters.com

🇰🇷 South Korean Markets

Key Takeaways

• KOSPI set a new all-time record on April 21, closing at 6,388.47. The index has fully recovered pre-war levels and hit fresh highs. Goldman Sachs has set a 1-year KOSPI target of 8,000.
• SK Hynix led the rally, breaking through 1.2 million won per share for the first time. Strong demand for AI memory has been driving the semiconductor sector.
• Institutional investors led the buying, and foreign investors also participated, with large-cap semiconductor and battery plays rallying together. Stable won/dollar exchange rates and expectations for corporate governance reforms are supporting foreign capital inflows.

🌍 Global Major Indexes

※ Asian markets on April 21 show KOSPI strength while other indexes remain mixed amid uncertainty over Middle East ceasefire deadlines. For precise closing levels, refer to primary sources.

📊 Sector Watch

Strong Sectors (at least 3)

• Semiconductors — SK Hynix +5% and beyond; AI memory demand surging with institutional and foreign buyers piling in
• Batteries/Secondary Batteries — Riding institutional flows alongside semiconductors as twin drivers of KOSPI strength
• Defense/Energy — Benefiting from renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and rising crude prices; WTI sustaining strength

Weak Sectors (at least 3)

• U.S. Tech Stocks — Apple CEO change and Middle East jitters weighing on Nasdaq
• Shipping/Logistics — Strait of Hormuz control risks reviving supply chain concerns
• U.S. Consumer Discretionary — Cyclical demand facing headwinds as Middle East uncertainty lingers

🔑 Macro Issues & Market Drivers

• U.S.-Iran Tensions Flare: U.S. forces seized an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, casting doubt on whether the 2-week ceasefire (deadline April 21 local time) will be extended. While Iran claims the strait remains "fully open," markets are staying on alert.
• Apple CEO Transition: Tim Cook's exit as CEO has rippled through Nasdaq futures volatility, though losses have been limited.
• S&P 500 Earnings Momentum: Corporate profit growth projections for 2026 have been raised from 15% pre-war to 19% currently. This week features earnings from 90 major companies.
• Foreign Capital Returning to Korea: Foreign buyers are trickling back into Korean capital markets. AI memory trades, corporate governance reform hopes, and Middle East stability expectations are lifting both equities and bonds.

Commodities & Currency

※ For precise figures, real-time tracking via CNBC, Reuters, and other primary sources is recommended. WTI faces upward pressure from renewed Middle East tensions.

📈 This Week's Key Events

• U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Deadline (April 21, local time): Whether it's extended will be a defining market event, directly driving volatility in crude and global stocks — investors are watching closely for negotiation outcomes.
• U.S. Earnings Week (this week): 90 S&P 500 companies reporting earnings concentrated this week; this will be the key variable shaping index direction.
• SK Hynix Earnings: SK Hynix results—which led KOSPI to all-time highs—will be a bellwether for HBM demand and the broader AI memory landscape, drawing intense scrutiny from global investors.