Trump TACO boosts Asia-Pacific stock markets, chip stocks soar, South Korean stocks break through the 5,000 mark! Gold falls below 4,800.

``` As U.S. President Trump made it clear he would abandon plans to increase tariffs on Europe and signaled a "framework agreement" regarding Greenland, the risk-on sentiment from overnight U.S. stocks spread to the Asia-Pacific region. Most stock markets rose, while safe-haven assets such as precious metals retreated simultaneously. During the Asia-Pacific session on Thursday, South Korea's KOSPI surged 2%, and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.87%, with chip stocks serving as the main driving force. According to Wallstreetcn, after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated that global AI infrastructure will require "trillions of dollars" of investment in the future, there was a significant increase in buying in the semiconductor sector. Japanese supplier Disco, an Nvidia supplier, soared as much as 17%. In South Korea, industry leaders such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also saw strong gains of more than 3%. The strong momentum in chip stocks pushed the KOSPI to the 5,000-point milestone, reaching a historic high with a cumulative monthly gain approaching 20%. (A monthly cumulative increase of 18.8% for the KOSPI) In addition to the upward semiconductor cycle, South Korea's domestic corporate governance reforms aimed at addressing the so-called "Korea discount" are also bearing fruit, jointly boosting investor confidence. Kiwoom Securities analyst Han Ji-young pointed out in a recent report that as valuations remain reasonable, the KOSPI still has further upside potential. Ray Wang, analyst at chip consultancy SemiAnalysis, said that SK Hynix's fourth-quarter earnings, expected to be announced later this month, are "very likely to beat expectations." Safe-haven assets are clearly under pressure. As tariffs and geopolitical tensions eased, spot gold in Asia-Pacific morning trading fell nearly 1%, breaking below the $4,800 mark. Spot silver dropped 0.8%. According to Wallstreetcn, the U.S. Congress postponed the "Cryptocurrency Act" by several weeks, causing cryptocurrencies to edge lower. Bitcoin intraday once approached $89,000, then fluctuated around the $90,000 mark. Reforms Target the "Korea Discount" Illness Last June, President Lee Jae-myung pledged to solve the issues of poor corporate governance and the "Korea discount," the latter of which has long suppressed valuation levels of South Korean stocks relative to other markets. A revision to the Commercial Act in July last year stipulated as a statutory obligation that boards consider the interests of all shareholders, not just the interests of the company. Critics noted that the so-called "corporate interests" in the past often meant the interests of family members of conglomerates who dominate the economy. The Korean government has also introduced tax incentives to encourage higher dividend payouts, as dividends by Korean companies have usually lagged other markets. The Lee Jae-myung administration is expected to announce measures to curb vested voting rights of controlling families, including abolishing treasury stocks hoarded by companies, in order to strengthen the rights of minority shareholders and raise earnings per share. Despite the market's strong rebound, many retail investors in Korea missed out on this round. Kim, a freelance photographer in Seoul, is one of many Korean retail investors who favor U.S. stocks. She believes U.S. stocks are less volatile than local stocks. She and other investors regret "not buying Korean stocks, especially names like Samsung Electronics." However, Kim thinks the 5,000-point milestone isn't that significant. She said: The KOSPI breaking through 5,000 points does not mean the Korean economy is booming. Risk Warning and Disclaimer Markets are risky and investment should be made with caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of any individual user. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions expressed in this article are appropriate for their specific circumstances. Investing based on this article is at your own risk. ```