South Korean Shares Extend Gains Ahead of Key Earnings

2026-07-06 01:36 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI rose 1% to around 8,170 on Monday, extending gains from the previous session as technology stocks advanced ahead of key corporate earnings.

Investors looked ahead to Samsung Electronics' highly anticipated second-quarter results, which are expected to provide fresh confirmation of robust AI-driven memory chip demand and pricing following recent volatility in global semiconductor shares.

US stock futures also advanced despite lingering concerns over AI-related valuations, improving global risk sentiment.

Samsung Electronics climbed 3.4%, while SK hynix rose 1.3%.

Other notable gainers included SK Square (3.3%), Hyundai Motor (2.4%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (2.4%), Kia Corporation (5.5%), and KB Financial Group (2.1%).

Sentiment also remained underpinned by the government's continued support for AI and semiconductor development, including plans to launch a future-growth fund financed by semiconductor tax revenue and accelerate AI adoption across the economy.



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South Korean Shares Extend Gains Ahead of Key Earnings
The benchmark KOSPI rose 1% to around 8,170 on Monday, extending gains from the previous session as technology stocks advanced ahead of key corporate earnings. Investors looked ahead to Samsung Electronics' highly anticipated second-quarter results, which are expected to provide fresh confirmation of robust AI-driven memory chip demand and pricing following recent volatility in global semiconductor shares. US stock futures also advanced despite lingering concerns over AI-related valuations, improving global risk sentiment. Samsung Electronics climbed 3.4%, while SK hynix rose 1.3%. Other notable gainers included SK Square (3.3%), Hyundai Motor (2.4%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (2.4%), Kia Corporation (5.5%), and KB Financial Group (2.1%). Sentiment also remained underpinned by the government's continued support for AI and semiconductor development, including plans to launch a future-growth fund financed by semiconductor tax revenue and accelerate AI adoption across the economy.
2026-07-06
South Korean Shares Rebound on Bargain Hunting
The benchmark KOSPI rose 5.76% to close at 8,088 on Friday, rebounding from the previous session as bargain hunting lifted heavyweight semiconductor shares. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix rebounded 8.74% and 11.32%, respectively, after suffering sharp declines a day earlier, helping lift the index despite continued weakness in global chip shares. Other gainers included SK Square (4.52%), Hyundai Motor (2.07%), LG Energy Solution (2.40%), Hanwha Aerospace (3.94%), Shinhan Financial Group (5.09%), and Kia Corporation (4.41%). At the same time, Samsung Electronics remained in focus after reports that AI startup Anthropic is in talks with the company to develop custom AI chips, lending additional support to the semiconductor sector. Sentiment was also supported by weaker-than-expected US June jobs data, which strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve could ease monetary policy in the coming months, boosting broader risk appetite.
2026-07-03
South Korean Shares Slide to Over 3-Week Low
The benchmark KOSPI plunged 7.89% to close at 7,648 on Thursday, extending losses to its lowest level in over three weeks, as a global selloff in AI-related semiconductor stocks pressured market heavyweights. The decline followed sharp overnight losses in US chipmakers after concerns over the sustainability of AI spending triggered a broad technology retreat, prompting investors to trim positions in South Korea's heavily weighted semiconductor sector following its strong first-half rally. Losses were led by Samsung Electronics (-8.90%) and SK Hynix (-12.81%), alongside SK Square (-11.72%), Hyundai Motor (-1.23%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.90%), Doosan Enerbility (-2.82%), and SK Inc. (-9.70%). Domestic sentiment was also pressured after South Korea's annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.2% in June, the highest since December 2023, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Korea could maintain a tighter policy stance.
2026-07-02