No agreement reached between the US and Iran; South Korean stocks opened lower, while Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (02848.HK) surged over1%.

NewTimeSpace News:US-Iran talks collapsed in Islamabad on April 12 after the American delegation walked out first, yielding no agreement. On April 13, Japanese and South Korean markets opened lower—the Nikkei 225 dropped0.88%to 56,421.46, while the KOSPI slid2.08%to 5,737.28. However,Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (02848.HK)bucked the trend, soaring over1%.

According to HKEX data, TR Korea tracks theMSCI Korea 20/35 Custom Index, a "capped index" designed by MSCI to meet EU UCITS regulatory requirements. It maintains broad representativeness of South Korea’s large- and mid-cap universe while enforcing strict weight ceilings to mitigate single-stock concentration risk. Top holdings include SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Shinhan Financial Group.

Per Yonhap, South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Kwang-jo stated on April 12 that current government-secured crude oil inventories—including commercial stockpiles—stand at80%of normal levels, sufficient to coverfour to five monthsof supply without tapping emergency reserves.

To ease economic pressure from rising oil prices, Seoul announced Saturday cash subsidies for thebottom 70%of income earners. The first tranche will reach the most vulnerable households onApril 27, expanding to the broader eligible population onMay 18.

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