NewTimeSpace News: On March 18, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened strong and maintained its upward momentum throughout the session. Heavyweights including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor all posted gains.Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF(02848.HK) surged at the open, jumping over 4%.

According to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) data,Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF(02848.HK) tracks the MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom Index—a "capped index" designed by MSCI to comply with EU UCITS fund regulatory requirements. This index maintains representation and investability across South Korea's large- and mid-cap equity market while mitigating single-company concentration risk through strict weight caps. Notable constituents in the top ten include SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Shinhan Financial Group.

South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok announced Wednesday that the government will provide 1.5 trillion won in aid to companies suffering supply chain disruptions from the Middle East conflict. The assistance package includes subsidies for increased costs of alternative imports and preferential interest rates for enterprises operating high-risk economic security projects. Additionally, South Korea will restrict naphtha exports and temporarily designate the feedstock as a supply chain economic security item.

Separately, Yonhap News Agency reported that the Ministry of Economy and Finance unveiled plans Wednesday to invest a total of 750 billion won over the next two years to accelerate the commercialization of AI products. This initiative forms part of South Korea's blueprint to build a "super-innovative economy" and expedite AI-driven economic transformation, which was finalized at a meeting of economy-related ministers. This year's allocation represents the largest single project within the government's 2.4 trillion won AI transformation budget.

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