Seoul: The Korea Exchange (KRX) on Wednesday activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the main bourse shortly after the opening bell, as shares rallied on reports of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 309.92 points, or 5.64 percent, to 5,804.7 at the opening bell.

According to Yonhap News Agency, following the surge, the KRX activated a buy-side sidecar, temporarily halting program-driven buy orders in KOSPI futures. This measure was taken to stabilize the market amid the rapid increase in stock prices, ensuring orderly trading conditions. The implementation of the sidecar is a regulatory tool used by the exchange to prevent excessive volatility during extraordinary market conditions.