Global Stocks Rise on Strong US Jobs, South Korea Election

Global stock markets rallied following stronger-than-expected U.S. job openings data, which eased concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariff policies on the economy. Asian shares, particularly South Korea's Kospi Index, surged after the election of a new president ended political uncertainty, while U.S. indexes also gained ahead of key payroll data. Optimism was further fueled by reports that Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to speak soon, raising hopes for a thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions despite Trump's recent tariff increases. The U.S. labor market's resilience supported expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady, though markets continue to price in potential rate cuts later in the year. Despite upbeat equities, some caution remains due to mixed signals about consumer strength and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Additionally, small-cap stocks outperformed, fueled in part by retail names like Dollar General, reflecting complex consumer behavior amid economic shifts.