Seoul shares surge record 18% to reclaim 6,500-point level on chip rally

South Korean stocks skyrocketed by a record 18 percent to reclaim the 6,500-point level Friday, driven by robust semiconductor gains as better-than-expected Microsoft earnings eased concerns over artificial intelligence spending. The local currency rose sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1,001.89 points, or 17.91 percent to close at 6,595.45, sharply rebounding from a three-session deep rout caused by a drop in chipmakers and other AI-related sto