Korean Index Breaks 8,000 for First Time. Nikkei Returns to 63,000, US-China Senior Officials Discuss Tech Cooperation

TradingKey - South Korea's KOSPI index opened lower but trended higher, rebounding quickly after opening 0.37% lower at 7,951.75 points to break the 8,000-point milestone for the first time in history.

The Nikkei 225 Index opened up 0.36% at 62,878.71 points before accelerating upward to reclaim the 63,000 level; technology, electronics, and automotive sectors were the primary leaders, with SoftBank Group and Honda Motor rising 3.0% and 5.0%, respectively.

SK Hynix extended its rally in early trading, with its market capitalization now approaching the $1 trillion mark.

Notably, just 16 months ago, SK Hynix's market capitalization was less than $100 billion. It has since evolved into a core player in the global AI supply chain. If it successfully surpasses $1 trillion, South Korea will become the only country besides the U.S. to host two trillion-dollar tech giants, solidifying its position as an AI industry hub in Asia.

On May 14 local time, U.S. President Trump held high-level talks lasting over two hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The accompanying delegation was high-profile; in addition to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NVIDIA ( NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang, Apple ( AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, Tesla ( TSLA) and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, along with more than a dozen other leaders from the technology and finance sectors, arrived in Beijing together.

During the meetings, President Xi met with representatives of the American business community, stating that China's door to the world will only open wider. He welcomed U.S. companies to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and share the opportunities of China's high-quality development.

The visiting executives generally expressed positive expectations for China's economic outlook. Jensen Huang described China as "one of the most dynamic economies in the world," Tim Cook praised the enthusiasm of Chinese consumers for AI applications, and Goldman Sachs ( GS) CEO David Solomon expressed optimism about the growth potential within China's 15th Five-Year Plan. Multiple executives stated their intention to continue deepening their presence in the Chinese market and expanding investments in R&D, supply chains, and localized services.

Driven by the positive news, major U.S. stock indices hit new record highs overnight. The S&P 500 closed up 0.77%, breaking the 7,500 level for the first time, while the Dow reclaimed the 50,000 mark at the close.