KRX:000660

Market Chatter: SK Hynix Shares Jump 12% Amid Strong AI Chip Demand

Shares of SK Hynix (KRX:000660) jumped nearly 12% to 18,80,000 won at market close on Monday, owing to strong demand for AI chips and gains made by American AI-related chip stocks, Nikkei Asia said in a same-day report.SK Hynix is a key conventional DRAM chip and advanced high-bandwidth memory chip supplier to global AI giants, and is also securing long-term supply agreements as technology companies around the world raise their AI infrastructure spending, the report said.As of the end of the trading session, SK Hynix had a market capitalization of about 1.3 quadrillion won, nearing the $1 trillion mark set by Berkshire Hathaway, while that of Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) reached 1.7 quadrillion won, it said.Shares of Samsung Electronics added over 6% at market close on Monday.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

South Korea's Kospi Hits All-Time High; Samsung Rises 6%

South Korea's benchmark index Kospi closed at an all-time high on Monday, with the rally driven by chip giants Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which gained over 6% and nearly 12%, respectively.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 324.24 points, or 4.3%, to end at 7,822.24. The Kosdaq finished little changed in negative territory at 1,207.34.In economic news, South Korea's exports surged 43.7% to $18.4 billion in the first 10 days of May from $12.8 billion a year earlier, Monday data from the Korea Customs Service showed.Imports increased 14.9% to $16.7 billion, resulting in a $1.7 billion trade surplus.In corporate news, shares of Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660) rose 3% after the company secured a 363.2 billion won order for a liquefied natural gas carrier from a Europe-based shipper.In other news, Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KRX:047810) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop advanced air mobility solutions.Shares of Hyundai (KRX:005380) closed 5% higher, while those of Korea Aerospace edged up 2%.

South Korean Shares Open Higher on Chip Rally Despite US-Iran Peace Agreement Fallout, Oil Price Jump

South Korean shares opened higher on Monday, owing to gains made by chipmakers despite the fallout of the US-Iran peace agreement.US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to the former's proposals to end the ongoing war as "totally unacceptable."The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 277.31 points to open at 7,775.31. The Kosdaq gained marginally to open at 1,212.88.Shares of key chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) were trading over 7% and 11% higher in Monday morning trade, tracking recent gains on Wall Street.Iran had forwarded a proposal to the US through Pakistan to end the conflict, calling for an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, an end to the U.S. naval blockade, and assurance of no further attacks, according to Tasnim news agency.However, Trump on Sunday evening accused Iran of "playing games", which raised concerns over a possible fallout to reach a peace agreement between the US and Iran.In addition, oil prices jumped on Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the military conflict with Iran was "not over." U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with June delivery rose 3.08% to $95.42 per barrel, while the international benchmark Brent crude futures with July delivery increased 3.16% to $104.49 per barrel.

Market Chatter: SK Hynix Receives Numerous Funding Offers Amid AI Chip Shortage

SK Hynix (KRX:000660) secured several funding offers from major global technology companies that seek to secure memory chip supplies amid the strong AI boom, Reuters reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.Memory chips are essential components of AI data centers, smartphones, personal computers, and more.The offers comprise investments in dedicated memory production lines and funding for expensive chipmaking equipment such as ASML's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, the report said.However, SK Hynix is reportedly cautious about taking in customer financial assistance, concerned that such arrangements could tie the company to specific buyers and pressurize it to supply memory chips at lower prices under long-term contracts and stable revenue guarantees, Reuters said.Shares of the chipmaker fell nearly 2% in recent trade.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Market Chatter: South Korea Becomes World's Seventh-Largest Stock Market

South Korea became the world's seventh-largest stock market, overtaking Canada, owing to strong demand for AI chips, Bloomberg reported Thursday.The total market value of South Korean listed firms surged 71% to $4.59 trillion in 2026, surpassing Canada's stock market capitalization, which rose about 7% to $4.5 trillion during the period, the report said.Key market bigwigs and chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), which recently surpassed a valuation of $1 trillion, and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), more than doubled in valuation this year as strong demand for AI chips pushed investor appetite for the stocks, it said.Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added rose more than 2% and 3%, respectively, at market close.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

South Korean Shares End at Fresh Highs on US-Iran Peace Hopes; SK Biopharma Rises

South Korean stocks closed at a fresh high on Thursday as investor sentiment was buoyed by optimism regarding a potential US-Iran peace agreement.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 105.49 points, or 1.4%, to end at 7,490.05. The Kosdaq slipped 0.9% to close at 1,199.18.The key index was lifted by gains in market heavyweights Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which rose more than 2% and 3%, respectively.In economic news, South Korea's foreign reserves grew to $427.9 billion in April from $423.7 billion as of March-end, data from the Bank of Korea showed.In corporate news, SK Biopharmaceuticals (KRX:326030) finished 1% higher after posting a first-quarter attributable income of 105.2 billion won, up 351% from 23.3 billion won a year earlier.

KOSPI Hits Record High on Hopes of US-Iran Peace Agreement; Samsung Electronics Soars 14%

South Korean shares closed sharply higher on Wednesday, with the primary index shooting up to close at a record high.The rally was led by strong gains in semiconductor stocks and investor optimism for a possible peace agreement between the US and Iran after US President Donald Trump halted the military operation Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased 447.57 points, or 6.5%, to end at 7,384.56. The Kosdaq fell by 3.57 points, or 0.3%, to close at 1,210.17.Chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added over 14% and nearly 11%, respectively, at market close.The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary stock market on Wednesday morning as investors rushed to purchase securities on hopes that the U.S.-Iran conflict may end in the near future.The Korea Exchange announced the order at 9:06 am after the KOSPI200 Futures added 66.05 points, or 6.28%, to trade at 1,116.55.In economic news, South Korea's inflation climbed 2.6% year on year in April, accelerating from a 2.2% rise in March amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, data from the country's Ministry of Data and Statistics showed on Wednesday.The headline print was in accordance with the median estimate of 2.6% in a Bloomberg survey.The increase was driven by higher costs across all categories, with transport gaining the highest at 9.7%.Meanwhile, core inflation, which measures prices of goods excluding food and energy, remained steady at 2.2% in April.In corporate news, Samsung Electronics hit a market valuation of $1 trillion on Wednesday, supported by the strong demand for AI chips, Bloomberg News reported on the same day.The South Korean chipmaker became the second Asian firm after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TPE:2330) to hit the $1 trillion mark.Overseas investors appear to be driving the recent rally in the stock, supported by a deal between Interactive Brokers and Samsung Securities (KRX:016360) that allows U.S. investors to directly buy South Korean stocks.The firm's semiconductor wing had posted a record profit in the first quarter, surpassing expectations by a wide margin on strong AI data center demand, with analysts expecting the momentum to continue in the quarters ahead as contract prices keep moving higher amid a scarce supply.In other news, LG Electronics (KRX:066570) secured the top 1% rating in credit rating agency S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the third straight year, the electronics products maker said in a Wednesday release.The company secured the highest score of 77 points in the Home Appliances & Leisure Goods industry group, which covers leisure equipment and products and consumer electronics.Shares of LG Electronics jumped over 8% at market close.

Market Chatter: SK Hynix Shares Gain 13% After US Tech Giants Signal No Slowdown in AI Spending

Shares of SK Hynix (KRX:000660) closed nearly 13% higher on Monday, ending trading at a new high of 1,447,000 won per share, after all four of ⁠the US tech giants indicated that spending on AI will not slow down, Reuters said in a same-day report.Total AI spending is estimated to surpass $700 billion in 2026, up from about $600 billion previously, as Microsoft and Meta announced larger-than-expected capital expenditure plans, which were partly led by higher memory chip prices, while maintaining confidence in their investments, the report said.In addition, Bank of Korea Senior Deputy Governor Ryoo Sang-dai said that the current chip market boom is likely to last longer as compared to past cycles, echoing similar outlooks from Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix during their earnings calls in April, it said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Market Chatter: South Korea Becomes Eighth-Largest Stock Market in the World

South Korea became the eighth-largest stock market in the world after the total market capitalization of South Korean-listed companies surged over 45% in 2026 to hit $4.04 trillion, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.South Korea surpassed the UK to take the spot, with the total market capitalization of UK-listed firms gaining about 3% to reach $3.99 trillion, the report said.The surge in Korean stock prices is a result of gains made by firms related to AI, in particular, Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660). These two firms make up for more than 40% of the total market capitalization of the country's primary index, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, according to the report.The surge in Korean stock prices is similar to gains in Taiwan, which overtook the UK in April to become the world's seventh-largest equity market. Taiwan's rally was driven largely by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TPE:2330), which makes up about 45% of its benchmark index. Taiwan's total market value has hit $4.48 trillion, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

South Korean Shares Close at New High on Chip, Power Equipment Gains

South Korean shares closed at a new high on Monday, with the primary index crossing the 6,600 level amid a rally led by chip stocks and power equipment manufacturers.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi rose 139.4 points, or 2.2%, to end at 6,615.03. The Kosdaq also increased by 22.34 points, or 1.9%, to close at 1,226.18.Shares of chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added over 2% and nearly 6% at market close, while those of Kosdaq-listed Fadu (KOSDAQ:440110) jumped over 19%.Gains were also driven by shares of power equipment manufacturers LS Electric (KRX:010120) and Hyosung Heavy Industries (KRX:298040), which added nearly 13% and 11%, respectively.In corporate news, Fadu posted first-quarter net income of 10.2 billion won, rebounding from a net loss of 12.1 billion won a year earlier, according to a Monday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean chipmaker's sales revenue surged 210% year over year to 59.5 billion won from 19.2 billion won.

South Korean Shares Open Higher Despite US-Iran Tension

South Korean shares opened higher on Monday despite the ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, with no definitive solution to the U.S. blockade of the key Strait of Hormuz and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian telling Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran will not negotiate with the U.S. under siege, threats, or pressure.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, gained 0.9%, or 57.97 points, to open at 6,533.60. The Kosdaq gained 9.29 points to open at 1,213.13.Amid the regional tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, with talks expected to focus on the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, regional tensions, and broader negotiations involving the US and Israel.Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's envoy to international organisations in Vienna, said Monday that the U.S. must leave behind "blackmailing" and "ultimatums" in its negotiations with Iran if talks are to move forward.Market movers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added 1.82% and 5.24% in Monday morning trade.

Nomura Adjusts SK Hynix's Price Target to KRW2,340,000 from KRW1,930,000, Keeps at Buy

SK Hynix Posts 398% Surge in Q1 Profit as Revenue Breaches 50-Trillion-Won Mark

SK hynix's (KRX:000660) attributable profit surged 398% to 40.3 trillion won in the first quarter from 8.107 trillion won in the year-ago period, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The chipmaker's revenue soared 198% to 52.6 trillion won from 17.6 trillion won in the prior-year period.The world's third-largest chipmaker by sales saw its top line breach the 50-trillion-won mark for the first time on a quarterly basis, it said in a Thursday press release.Operating profit grew 405% to a record-high 37.6 trillion won from 7.441 trillion won in the prior-year period.The chip manufacturer's operating margin widened to 72% during the period from 42% a year earlier.Strong demand persisted during the first quarter of 2026 due to expanded artificial intelligence infrastructure investments, the company said in its news release.SK Hynix also attributed growth in the quarter to higher sales of its high-bandwidth memory, high-capacity server dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules, and enterprise solid state drives (eSSDs).Cash and cash equivalents grew by 19.4 trillion won to 54.3 trillion won, while interest-bearing debt slipped by 2.9 trillion won quarter-on-quarter to 19.3 trillion won.SK Hynix plans to roll out new products in the DRAM and NAND flash segments to address diversifying memory demand, it said."SK hynix also predicted that the spread of memory efficiency technologies will enhance the economic viability of AI services, leading to an expansion of the overall service scale and further drive memory demand," the company said in its earnings release.The chipmaker plans to expand its capital expenditure "significantly" in 2026, and while it could create "too much" future production, the company could add little manufacturing capacity until the middle of 2027, Barron's said Thursday.

Tech Rally, US-Iran's Ceasefire Extension Push Kospi to New High

South Korean shares closed at a new high on Thursday, just shying away from touching the 6,500 level, as investor optimism rose after the US and Iran extended their ceasefire indefinitely. In addition, SK Hynix's (KRX:000660) stellar first-quarter earnings also buoyed sentiment.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi rose 57.88 points, or 0.9%, to end at 6,475.81. The Kosdaq, however, decreased by 6.81 points, or 0.6%, to close at 1,174.31.Technology stocks such as Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and LG Corporation (KRX:003550) also drove gains, as investors focused on their upcoming first-quarter earnings releases. Shares of Samsung Electronics added over 3% while those of LG Corp. added nearly 2% at market close.In economic news, South Korea's real gross domestic product increased 3.6% in the first quarter of 2026 from the same period last year, following a 1.6% annual expansion in the prior quarter, an advance estimate by the Bank of Korea indicated on Thursday.According to a median forecast of economists polled by Reuters, the country's real GDP was expected to grow 2.7%.On a quarterly basis, the economy grew by 1.7% in Q1, which also surpassed the Reuters estimate of 1%.Meanwhile, gross domestic income increased 12.3% on an on-year basis and 7.5% on an on-quarter basis in Q1In corporate news, Tovis (KOSDAQ:051360) posted first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of 16.05 billion won, up 77% from 9.07 billion won a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean display models manufacturer's sales jumped 10.4% year over year to 169.8 billion won from 153.8 billion won.Shares of Tovis rose more than 4% at market close.

South Korea's Economy Grows in Q1 Amid Rising Chip Demand

South Korea's first-quarter economy expanded amid the growing popularity of artificial intelligence and global chips.The gross domestic product rose 1.7% from the previous quarter, the Bank of Korea said Thursday, beating Reuters' estimate of a 1% growth.The increase in GDP can be mainly attributed to exports of information technology (IT) products, including semiconductors, which jumped 5.1%. The imports of these items were up 3% due to increases in machinery and equipment and in motor vehicles.Major Korean chipmakers have been making huge profits due to the growing demand for AI. SK Hynix (KRX:000660) recorded a 398% year-on-year surge in its first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders to 40.3 trillion won. The company's sales during the period soared 198% year over year to 52.6 trillion won.Meanwhile, facilities investment climbed 4.8% amid increases in machinery and transportation equipment, the BoK said.Construction investment inched 2.8% higher, while government consumption rose by 0.1%.Min Joo Kang, ING's senior economist for South Korea and Japan, said chip exports are expected to gain momentum over the coming months, offsetting the disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Total exports climbed 50% year on year, with chip exports soaring 182%, she said, citing April export data. However, South Korea's economy is still facing risks such as higher inflation caused by oil price hikes and energy disruptions."The Korean government implemented a temporary export ban on Naphtha, and Korean companies increased oil and gas imports from outside the Middle East," Kang said. "Despite these measures, manufacturing activity still cannot be sustained at full capacity."Kang said chip exports may begin to slow down in the second half of the year.Krystal Tan, ANZ's Asia economist, also believes the semiconductor industry could help cushion the shock brought by the war in Iran, but growth may also weaken in the coming quarters as the impact of the conflict starts to sink in and the imbalances between supply and demand remain."Importantly, large-scale new memory manufacturing capacity is only expected to begin materializing from the second half of 2027, suggesting the current cycle still has room to run," Tan said. "Continued strength in semiconductor exports would in turn provide Korea with a degree of insulation from external shocks that many other energy-importing economies lack,"

SK Hynix's Net Attributable Income Jumps 398% in Q1

SK Hynix (KRX:000660) posted first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of 40.330 trillion won, up 398% from 8.107 trillion won a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean chipmaker's sales jumped 198% year over year to 52.576 trillion won from 17.639 trillion won.Shares of SK Hynix rose nearly 1% in recent trade.

South Korean Shares Open at New High on US-Iran Ceasefire Extension

South Korean shares opened at a fresh high on Thursday, as investor optimism rose after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was extended indefinitely, while SK Hynix's (KRX:000660) stellar first-quarter earnings buoyed sentiment.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, gained 1.1%, or 70.9 points, to open at 6,488.83. The Kosdaq, on the other hand, declined marginally, opening at 1,189.10.Shares of SK Hynix were up nearly 1% in Thursday morning trade after the company posted Q1 net income attributable to shareholders of 40.330 trillion won, up 398% from 8.107 trillion won a year earlier.The South Korean chipmaker's sales jumped 198% year over year to 52.576 trillion won from 17.639 trillion won.

SK Hynix Breaks Ground at New Memory Packaging Facility

SK Hynix (KRX:000660) broke ground at its P&T7 memory packaging facility in Cheongju, South Korea, the semiconductor giant said in a Wednesday press release.The world's third largest semiconductor manufacturer by sales will invest 19 trillion won in the facility, according to a separate disclosure to the Korea Exchange the same day.P&T7 will be dedicated to manufacturing AI memory parts such as high-bandwidth memory, which helps boost data processing speed through vertical connection of multiple dynamic random access memory modules, the company said.The project spans 230,000 square meters within the Cheongju Technopolis Industrial Complex.Total cleanroom area will span 150,000 square meters, with three floors of wafer-level packaging production lines comprising 60,000 square meters and seven floors of wafer test process lines comprising 90,000 square meters.The P&T7 is the fifth facility SK Hynix is building in Cheongju, the company said.SK Hynix plans to complete construction of the wafer test lines by October 2027 and the wafer level packaging facilities by February 2028.Once completed, the P&T7 facility will raise SK Hynix's total production capacity by about 30%, Reuters reported separately the same day.SK Hynix has so far invested 70 trillion won in the memory chip segment, according to Reuters.Semiconductors comprise 70% of company revenue, with NAND flash memory packaging comprising the remainder, the newswire said.

SK hynix to Build KRW19 Trillion Advanced Packaging Facility to Meet AI Memory Demand

SK hynix (KRX:000660) plans to build P&T7, an advanced packaging fab in the Technopolis Industrial Complex in Cheongju to meet global demand for AI memory, the South Korean semiconductor firm said in a Wednesday filing with the Korea Exchange.The company will invest about 19 trillion won for factory construction and production facility setup, the filing said.

South Korean Shares Close Marginally Higher Despite Renewed US-Iran Tensions, Investors Eye Q1 Earnings

South Korean shares closed slightly higher on Monday despite an increase in tensions between the US and Iran after the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel called Touska near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran issued a warning to the US in the aftermath of the incident.Investors chose to shift their focus on the upcoming first-quarter earnings season instead.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi rose 27.17 points, or 0.4%, to end at 6,219.09. The Kosdaq also increased by 4.81 points, or 0.4%, to close at 1,174.85.In corporate news, SK Hynix (KRX:000660) began the mass production of high-capacity 192GB products, which are optimized for Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform, the chipmaker said in a Monday release.The SOCAMM2 192GB (gigabyte) product is a memory module standard that is based on 10-nanometer class 6th generation (1c) LPDDR5X low-power dynamic random access memory.Shares of the chipmaker increased over 3% at market close.In other news, South Korean credit rating firms Korea Ratings, Korea Investors Service, and NICE Investors Service upgraded Hyundai Rotem's (KRX:064350) credit rating to AA- from A+.The upgrades were based on the defense systems manufacturer's strong capability to repay debt, improved earnings, and financial stability.Shares of Hyundai Rotem rose nearly 2% at market close.