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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedJuly 31, 2026United States

Global Stock Markets Surge Following AI Profit Reports

Global stock markets saw significant gains on Friday, led by a record-breaking 17.9% jump in South Korea's Kospi index. The rally was driven by renewed investor confidence in artificial intelligence companies following strong quarterly earnings from Microsoft.

stock marketartificial intelligencecurrency exchangeglobal economytechnology sector
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Why It Matters

The market volatility impacts global investment portfolios, retirement savings, and currency exchange rates, specifically affecting the value of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

  • South Korea's Kospi index rose 17.9% to 6,695.45, marking its largest single-day gain ever.
  • Samsung Electronics shares rose 28% and SK Hynix shares rose 30%.
  • Microsoft shares increased 15.5% following a strong quarterly profit report.
  • The U.S. dollar gained 0.5% against the Japanese yen, reaching 160.28 yen.
  • The Bank of Japan and the U.S. Federal Reserve both kept interest rates unchanged.
  • Regulators in Japan and the U.S. are suspected of coordinating a currency 'rate check' to influence the yen.
  • Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 4% to 64,362.02.
  • China's factory activity contracted in July for the first time in five months.
  • Brent crude oil prices rose 0.8% to $87.50 per barrel.
  • The Kospi index remains below its June peak of over 9,000.
  • The previous record single-day gain for the Kospi was 12% in October 2008.

Who's Mentioned

personStephen Innes“SPI Asset Management analyst”organizationSK Hynix“Memory chipmaker”organizationTSMC“Chipmaker”organizationTokyo Electron“Chip equipment maker”organizationSoftBank Group“Investment holding company”organizationSamsung Electronics“South Korean technology company”organizationFederal Reserve Bank of New York“Suspected of conducting currency rate checks”otherKospi“South Korean stock market index”organizationBank of Japan“Central bank that kept interest rates unchanged”personJonas Golterman“Capital Economics analyst”organizationMicrosoft“Technology company reporting strong profits”