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South Korea's KOSPI Surges 5% to 5,925 as Samsung and SK Hynix Lead Record Institutional Buying Amid AI Memory Boom

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index surged more than 5% on Wednesday, closing at 5,925.03 on record institutional net buying of 3.1 trillion won — the single largest institutional buy day in the exchange's history. Semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the rally, reclaiming key psychological price levels at 200,000 won and 1 million won respectively, as investors positioned ahead of Micron Technology's blockbuster earnings expected after the U.S. close.

Micron Technology Reports Q2 Fiscal 2026 Earnings After the Bell; $19.3B Revenue and $8.66 EPS Expected as HBM Demand Hits Record

Micron Technology reports its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings after the close on Wednesday, with Wall Street consensus projecting revenue of approximately $19.3 billion — a 138% year-over-year explosion — and EPS of $8.66, up more than 450% from the prior year. The chipmaker has already sold out its entire 2026 HBM allocation and guided for record gross margins near 68%, positioning the report as a potential inflection catalyst for the entire semiconductor sector.

Delta and American Airlines Lift Q1 Revenue Guidance to Record Levels Despite $400 Million Fuel Cost Hit From Iran War

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines each raised their first-quarter 2026 revenue guidance to record levels on Tuesday at the JPMorgan Industrials Conference — Delta targeting $15.0–$15.3 billion with high-single-digit growth and American projecting its highest-ever year-over-year quarterly revenue gain above 10% — as surging bookings from corporate and leisure travelers more than offset a $400 million per carrier fuel cost shock driven by the Iran war.

Oil Prices Ease as Select Tankers Resume Hormuz Transits, But Geopolitical Risk Remains Elevated

Oil prices retreated Monday after a handful of tankers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, offering the first signs of limited resumption in the world's most critical energy corridor since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began February 28. Brent crude settled around $100 per barrel while WTI fell to $93.50, though continued Iranian missile strikes on Gulf nations and near-paralyzed tanker traffic underscored the fragility of the relief rally.

Oil Above $100 as Middle East Conflict Jolts Global Markets and Boosts Energy Shares

Crude oil surged past $100 a barrel Friday as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to disrupt shipping and energy flows, triggering volatility across global markets. Energy producers rallied while airlines, transport firms and consumer companies faced mounting cost pressures. Investors are increasingly rotating into oil majors, defense contractors and commodity-linked equities as the geopolitical risk premium expands and markets adjust to the possibility of prolonged supply disruptions.

Brent Crude Surges Past $96 as Iran Mines Strait of Hormuz, S&P 500 Extends Losses

Brent crude climbed above $96 a barrel Thursday as Iran's new supreme leader signaled no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. forces confirming Tehran is actively mining the waterway. The S&P 500 lost 1.3%, falling to its lowest level since November, as stagflation fears intensified across equity, credit, and currency markets.

IEA Approves Record 400 Million-Barrel Emergency Oil Release, but Traders Remain Skeptical

The International Energy Agency's 32 member nations unanimously agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves—the largest coordinated drawdown in the organization's 52-year history. Despite the announcement, Brent crude remained above $90, as analysts said the release covers only a fraction of the ongoing supply disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

Strait of Hormuz Attacks Drive Brent Above $90 as Iran War Rattles Global Shipping Markets

Three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in or near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, including one ship forced to evacuate its crew after a fire broke out 11 nautical miles north of Oman. Brent crude climbed back above $90 per barrel despite a proposed record release of emergency reserves by the International Energy Agency, as military escalation between the U.S. and Iran continued to unsettle global energy markets.

Oil Price Volatility Keeps Energy and Airline Stocks on Edge

Crude oil prices swung sharply as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to influence global energy markets. The volatility has raised concerns about renewed inflation pressures while creating diverging prospects for energy producers and transportation companies, forcing investors to reassess sector positioning across oil majors, refiners, airlines, and shipping companies.