South Korea’s KOSPI stood at 6,662.49 as of 11:25 a.m. Thursday, up 83.01 points or 1.26%, holding around the 6,600 level on broad foreign and institutional buying as markets priced a higher chance of a U.S. rate freeze. Foreign investors bought a net 230.5 billion won and institutions purchased 658.5 billion won, including 518.8 billion won from financial investors with ETF inflows and 104.1 billion won from pension funds. Other corporations bought a net 620.1 billion won amid estimated self-purchases of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix shares, while individuals alone sold 1.5041 trillion won. Sentiment improved after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he would support holding the benchmark rate if inflation eases, and New York Fed President John Williams said the recent rise in Treasury yields reflected a strong economy rather than market dysfunction. CME FedWatch odds of a September freeze rose to 49.5% from 36.8%, and the U.S. 10-year yield edged lower near 4.76%. Technology shares including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix strengthened, financial stocks weakened, and oil-related names such as S-Oil rose with crude near $90. The KOSDAQ advanced 2.23% to 807.8, with foreigners and institutions net buyers and biotech and semiconductor stocks leading.