Global Stock Market Trends — 2026-04-25

Global Indices at a Glance

Based on closing prices on Friday, April 24. Some figures are based on the latest available reports.

🇰🇷 Korean Market

KOSPI / KOSDAQ Summary

The KOSPI closed slightly lower in the 6,470 range on April 24. Despite briefly breaking the 6,500 mark during intraday trading, the index lost momentum as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix turned lower due to foreign net selling pressure. On April 23, it closed at 6,475.81, marking its third consecutive record high. The KOSDAQ made history by surpassing the 1,200 line for the first time in 25 years, boosting investor sentiment. While auto stocks weakened, defense and battery stocks maintained upward momentum.

Flows

• Foreigners: Net selling on KOSPI / Net buying on KOSDAQ (Divergent flow)
• Institutions: Maintaining a defensive position on KOSPI
• Individuals: Sold 23.11 billion KRW in KOSDAQ ETFs, moved into KOSPI 200 products and inverse semiconductor ETFs

Top Sectors & Stocks (Min. 3)

• Samsung Electronics: +3.22% on April 23 — Driven by expectations for semiconductor recovery and global AI demand.
• SK Hynix: Fell on April 24 due to profit-taking after hitting a 52-week high.
• Defense & Battery Sectors: Up — Benefiting from prolonged geopolitical tensions and global energy transition themes.
• KOSDAQ 150 Leverage ETF: Notable for 17 consecutive days of foreign net buying.

🇺🇸 U.S. Market

The Three Major Indices (Friday, April 24)

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 set new record highs on April 24, successfully closing higher for the fourth consecutive week. Intel (INTC) was the star of the show, skyrocketing over 23% to post its largest single-day gain since the dot-com bubble. AMD also surged nearly 14%, supporting the semiconductor sector's 18-day winning streak. News of progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks pulled oil prices down, fueling risk-on sentiment, while the Department of Justice’s decision to close its investigation into Fed Chair Powell also acted as a tailwind.

Key Movements (Min. 3)

• Intel (INTC): Up over 23% — Surprise earnings and foundry business improvement expectations; best single-day gain since the dot-com era.
• AMD (AMD): Up about 14% — Accelerated semiconductor AI demand and continued growth in the data center division.
• ServiceNow, IBM: Down — Weakness in the software sector following disappointment over previous day's (23rd) earnings.

Sector Trends

Semiconductors and hardware led the market, with the explosive gains in Intel and AMD keeping the 18-day streak alive. Conversely, the software sector (ServiceNow, IBM, etc.) remained relatively weak due to disappointing results, and energy stocks were mixed as oil prices fell.

2 sources

thestreet.com

thestreet.com

thestreet.com

thestreet.com

🌏 Asian & European Markets

Asia (Japan, China, Hong Kong)

Asian markets showed mixed results on April 24 amid geopolitical uncertainty. Despite the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension agreement, investors remained cautious. While the KOSPI was flat, the KOSDAQ achieved its historic 1,200 break. The Nikkei and Hang Seng showed volatility due to doubts about the sustainability of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks and reports of a seized U.S. oil tanker. Mainland China also maintained a defensive stance amidst global risk-off sentiment.

Europe (UK, Germany, France)

European markets received some benefits from the U.S. semiconductor rally, but gains were limited by ongoing Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions and oil price volatility. The FTSE 100, DAX, and CAC 40 all faced short-term upward pressure from improved global risk appetite, but concerns regarding sustainability persist.

📊 Market Drivers

• Intel Surprise & 18-Day Semiconductor Rally: Intel’s record-breaking single-day gain (+23%) triggered a rally across global semiconductor stocks like AMD and SK Hynix. The sector has now gained for 18 straight sessions, fueled by expanding demand for AI servers and data centers.

• U.S.-Iran Geopolitical Uncertainty: Tensions reignited following reports of a U.S. oil tanker seizure after the Trump administration’s extension of the Iran ceasefire. Oil prices fluctuated, creating mixed impacts for energy and defense stocks. The 3-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire provided only limited relief to investors.

• Fed Independence Issue Resolved: With the DOJ formally closing the probe into Chair Powell, concerns over monetary policy independence have eased, which the market interpreted as a sign of risk-on appetite.

• Divergent Earnings Season: While hardware companies like Intel provided a "surprise" boost, software firms like ServiceNow and IBM deepened the sector divide with disappointing results. The 2026 earnings growth forecast for S&P 500 companies is currently at 19%.

🔭 Watchlist

Key Events This Week

• U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations: The existing ceasefire has been extended, but whether tensions in the Strait of Hormuz flare up again will be critical for oil and global stocks.
• Fed-Related Comments: Need to monitor for potential shifts in monetary policy following the conclusion of the Powell investigation.
• Continuing Earnings Season: Keep a close watch on the earnings release schedule for major tech and software firms.
• KOSDAQ 1,200 Stability: The direction of individual investor ETF rotation and foreign capital flows will be key to further KOSDAQ gains.
• Semiconductor Streak Sustainability: Assessing the pressure for profit-taking versus the need for further catalysts after the 18-day run.

Investor Checklist

• U.S.-Iran geopolitical risk: Watch news flow related to the Strait of Hormuz and oil price trends.
• Domestic flow divergence: Monitor whether foreigners continue to sell KOSPI while buying KOSDAQ.
• Semiconductor/AI valuation: Evaluate the potential for a pullback after the recent sharp rise versus underlying earnings support.

💬 One-line Insight

Intel’s massive single-day rebound proved the foundation of the AI semiconductor supercycle, but the deadlock in U.S.-Iran negotiations and soft earnings in the software sector signal an extreme divergence between "hardware vs. software," making careful stock selection more critical than ever.