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Seoul shares jumped more than 1.5 percent Tuesday to close at above the historic milestone of 4,500 on the back of a rise in semiconductors, brokerages and shipbuilders. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 67.96 points, or 1.52 percent, to finish at a new record high of 4,525.48, breaking the 4,500-point mark for the first time.

The index broke through the 4,400-point threshold the previous session on continued gains in technology stocks.

Trading volume was heavy at 492.84 million shares worth 25.27 trillion won (US$17.4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 482 to 394.

The index opened lower, bucking overnight gains on Wall Street, but later turned higher as retail investors scooped up technology and other large-cap stocks.

Individuals bought a net 597.55 billion won worth of shares, offsetting net selling by foreigners and institutions totaling 618.83 billion won and 68.93 billion won, respectively.

Foreign investors turned net sellers Tuesday after purchasing more than 2.8 trillion won worth of shares over the past two sessions.

“Technology stocks remained weak on profit taking in the morning session, but turned higher on retail buying in the afternoon trading. Individual investors also purchased defense and shipbuilding stocks on expectations of strong earnings results in 2025,” said No Dong-kil, an analyst at Shinhan Securities Co.

Technology, defense, brokerage and shipbuilding stocks led the gains.

Market behemoth Samsung Electronics rose 0.58 percent to 138,900 won, while chip giant SK hynix jumped 4.31 percent to 726,000 won.

Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries soared 7.21 percent to 550,000 won, and Korea Aerospace Industries surged 9.41 percent to 136,100 won.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace gained 0.99 percent to 1,022,000 won, and Mirae Asset Securities jumped 12.55 percent to 28,700 won.

Among decliners, No. 2 carmaker Kia slipped 0.08 percent to 122,500 won, and national flag carrier Korean Air declined 0.44 percent to 22,500 won.

No. 2 steelmaker Hyundai Steel shed 1.33 percent to 29,650 won, and leading chemical firm LG Chem dropped 0.45 percent to 328,500 won.

The local currency was quoted at 1,445.50 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 1.7 won from the previous session.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, ended mixed. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 1.5 basis points to 2.948 percent, while the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds fell 0.5 basis point to 3.244 percent.

Egypt has been ranked as the leading African country in global soft power influence for 2024, according to a report by Business Insider Africa. The report, based on the Global Soft Power Index published by Brand Finance, places Egypt 39th worldwide with a soft power score of 44.9 points.

South Africa and Morocco follow Egypt in the continent’s rankings, securing second and third place with scores of 43.7 and 40.6 points, respectively. The index also noted that “Egypt secures the gold for its ‘rich heritage’” while the UAE ranks number one in the Middle East and 10th globally. Globally, the US leads with a record-high score of 78.8 points, an increase from 74.8 in 2023.

The Global Soft Power Index assesses the perceptions of all 193 UN member states, evaluating countries based on eight pillars: business and trade, international relations, education and science, culture and heritage, governance, media and communication, sustainable future, and people and values.

Soft power is defined as a country’s ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion. Countries like Egypt are leveraging diplomacy, culture, and education to enhance their global reputation and build goodwill.

Meanwhile, China which sits on third place on the global index has been expanding its influence in Africa over the past decade and is currently hosting the China-Africa forum, with African leaders keen to explore investment and loan opportunities. China, the world’s number two economy, is Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $167.8 billion in the first half of this year.

READ: Egypt’s Al-Azhar condemns Israeli offensive in occupied West Bank

Asia travel experts TransIndus have crunched the numbers to find the cheapest city for money for budget-conscious travellers looking to save money

Hanoi may not be the first destination that springs to mind for Brits seeking a budget-friendly holiday but research suggests that Vietnam’s capital could be one of the best-value cities on the planet.

Asia travel specialists TransIndus have put together a basket consisting of three supermarket beers, a 5km bike taxi ride, and a McDonald’s combo meal and it adds up to £5.60 in Hanoi, so much cheaper than it would be in the UK.

A spokesperson for TransIndus said: “People understandably want their holiday money to go further in 2026 – but the smartest approach is to plan with a few simple ‘anchor’ costs in mind.

“A short ride, a casual meal, and a couple of drinks are the sort of everyday purchases many travellers make in the first 24 hours. If those are low, it’s a strong sign the city is going to feel great value overall.”

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So, what does a cheap evening in Hanoi look like?

• McDonald’s combo meal (Big Mac Meal or similar): £3.14.

• Domestic beer (0.5L) from a supermarket: £0.42 each (so £1.26 for three).

• Bike taxi ride (5km estimate): about £1.20 – based on common fares for motorcycle taxis booked on local ride-hailing apps.

This brings the total to £5.60 for the complete basket.

Researchers looked at typical local prices reported by travellers and expats who currently live there. But Hanoi isn’t the only Asian destination where visitors can enjoy themselves for less.

Other Asian cities to consider visiting include:

• Yogyakarta, Indonesia: approximately £8.07 for the identical basket.

• Manila, Philippines: approximately £8.38.

• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: approximately £9.29.

Vietnam is certainly a cheap place to enjoy yourself – a recent Post Office Money report highlights how Hoi An – 479 miles south – is 10% cheaper than it was in 2023.

The town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.

In the evenings the lights from the yellow painted buildings and orange sun reflect off the water making it look magical. Thanks to an Unesco decree, more than 800 buildings have been preserved, meaning the village still looks like it did several centuries ago.

Travle blogger Travel Lush recommends cycling around the city. “Wandering aimlessly around the Ancient Town is easily one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

“And sure, it is very touristy, but I always love marveling at the old buildings, snapping photos of the postcard-perfect alleyways, sampling street snacks and popping into all of the little shops – you honestly never know what gems you’ll stumble upon in Hoi An’s historic center. The people-watching is pretty great too!

“Getting the chance to take in Hoi An’s magical scenery from a bicycle is one of my all-time favorite Hoi An activities. Cycling is big in Hoi An and most hotels here offer complimentary bicycles. It’s an incredible way to check out all of the city’s beautiful temples, emerald rice paddies and everyday street scenes.”

The weathers not bad either – throughout the year the Vietnamese city enjoys temperature of around 29C on most days. However, it does have a long rainy season, from November through to January, so it may be wise to visit before, during the autumn, or from February. And while it’s cheap once you get there flights from the UK will set you back around £780.

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Dec. 19 (Asia Today) — A South Korean civic group said most retired National Assembly officials subject to post-employment screening were cleared to take private-sector jobs, calling the results evidence of a serious revolving-door problem involving major companies, supervised agencies and law firms.

The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice said at a news conference Thursday that it analyzed employment screening decisions involving retired National Assembly officials from 2020 to 2025. The group said the review covered lawmakers, aides and National Assembly Secretariat staff.

South Korea’s post-employment screening system is designed to determine whether a retired public official’s new job is closely related to their former duties and whether it should be approved. The purpose is to prevent improper collusion between public officials and private institutions.

CCEJ said 427 of 438 National Assembly cases, or 97.5%, received decisions allowing employment, either as “employment possible” or “employment approved.” The group said “employment possible” applies when the new position is deemed unrelated to the official’s previous duties, while “employment approved” applies when there is a connection but authorities find grounds for a special approval.

CCEJ said more than half of those cleared, 239 people, joined private companies. By major corporate groups, the group said Coupang hired the most, with 16 people, including 15 aides and one policy research fellow. LG followed with 11, SK with 10, Samsung with nine and KT with eight.

CCEJ said the National Assembly holds significant powers, including legislation, budgeting and state audits. It argued that when former officials move directly into jobs at audited agencies, major corporations or law firms tied to their prior duties, it can lead to collusion between politics and business and preferential treatment for former officials.

The group called for stronger requirements for approving post-retirement employment tied to the National Assembly, tighter reviews of job relevance and disclosure of specific reasons when screening results are announced.

– Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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