South Korean stocks jumped by more than 1 percent on Thursday as investors were cheered by overnight gains on Wall Street and growing expectations of an extended stimulus in the eurozone, analysts said. The South Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 20.82 points, or 1.11 percent, to 1,904.65, rising for a second consecutive session. Trading volume was moderate at 259 million shares worth 4.17 trillion won ($3.8 billion), with gainers beating losers 465 to 325.

The market started sharply higher as Samsung Electronics, the country’s top market cap, reported market forecast-beating earnings results for the fourth quarter of last year. The U.S. stock market closed higher on upbeat job data.

“Investors seem to be optimistic about corporate earnings, and expectations are growing over an additional easing step in the eurozone economy,” said Kim Jung-hyun, an analyst at IBK Investment & Securities. (Yonhap)