Asia-Pacific markets set to open mixed after Wall Street gains on strong bank earnings

Group 1 - South Korea's Kospi index reached a record high following the IMF's upward revision of the country's 2025 growth forecast to 0.9% from 0.8% [1] - The IMF also increased its global growth projection, attributing the upgrade to the private sector's agility, trade deals, and global restraint in maintaining an open trading system [1] - South Korean stocks were positively impacted by U.S. Treasury Secretary's comments on nearing completion of trade negotiations with South Korea, leading to significant gains in the automotive and electronics sectors [2] Group 2 - The Kospi index advanced by 1.09%, while the small-cap Kosdaq increased by 0.2% [5] - Samsung Electronics shares rose 2.32% to an all-time high, while Hyundai Motor and Kia saw gains of around 8% and 7%, respectively [2] - Global trade tensions have caused investor anxiety, reflected in the rising Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), which reached over 21.6, its highest level since late May [3]