The Korea Composite Stock Price Index was displayed on an electronic board at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, indicating a strong start for South Korean stocks on Thursday. This was in line with the gains seen on Wall Street, driven by optimism about a potential interest rate hike. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose by 0.84 percent in the first 15 minutes of trading, gaining 23.37 points to reach 2,817.38. In the United States, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite reached record highs, fueled by strong performances from companies like Tesla and Nvidia, and bolstered by favorable labor data that raised expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics saw a 3.55 percent increase, while Hyundai Motor rose by 0.91 percent. KB Financial Group and Hanwha Aerospace also experienced gains of 1.07 percent and 1.72 percent, respectively. Additionally, the local currency was trading at 1,384.35 won against the US dollar, reflecting a 6.25 won increase from the previous session.