Japan and Korea Lead Asian Stock Surge — Nikkei 225 Breaks 49,000, KOSPI Tops 3,800

TradingKey – Asian equities rallied broadly on Monday, October 20, with Japan and South Korea setting fresh record highs.

The Nikkei 225 Index soared 3% intraday, breaking above 49,000 for the first time in history, peaking at 49,014.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s KOSPI Index extended its winning streak to a fourth consecutive session, jumping 1.47% to a new all-time high of 3,803.86.

KOSPI Trend Chart – Source: Google

Other major Asian markets also posted gains:

• Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.48% to 3,858
• Hong Kong Hang Seng Index climbed 2.3% to 25,838
• Thailand SET Index gained over 1%, closing at 1,287
• Indonesia Composite Index surged nearly 2% to 8,071
• India’s S&P CNX NIFTY Index advanced 0.62% to 25,867

The rally reflects improving investor sentiment across the region, supported by easing trade tensions, strong corporate earnings, and favorable macro signals. Japan’s breakout above 49,000 and Korea’s continued momentum underscore the strength of Northeast Asia’s equity leadership.