KRX:005930

Market Chatter: South Korea to Allow Overseas Investors to Directly Invest in ETFs

South Korea plans to allow overseas investors to directly invest in domestic exchange-traded funds (ETFs), in a bid to attract more foreign investment amid the country's primary stock market index's recent record rally, Yonhap News reported Sunday.The Financial Services Commission is pushing for regulatory revisions to give foreign investors direct access to the country's ETFs and plans to issue a prior notice in June. The measure could be introduced in the second half of 2026 if the Financial Services Commission and the finance ministry resolve withholding tax issues and brokerages conclude trading system upgrades, analysts said, according to the report.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, has surged 82% so far this year, fueled by strong gains in the stocks of Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) amid the AI boom worldwide, 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: Dutch Ambassador Emphasizes Broader Chip Cooperation With South Korea Beyond ASML

The Netherlands-based chip equipment giant ASML supplies extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), however, the Netherlands' semiconductor ties with South Korea extend far beyond a single company, Peter van der Vliet, the Dutch ambassador in Seoul, told Nikkei Asia on Sunday.Dutch firms ASM International, BE Semiconductor Industries, and the research organization TNO are active partners of South Korean chipmakers, the report said.Vliet said that the two countries could deepen cooperation in next-generation chip manufacturing technologies, particularly in photonics, which uses light instead of electronics to process and transmit data in semiconductors, 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: Samsung Electronics Workers Begin Voting on New Pay Deal

Voting to ratify the pay deal agreement to avert an 18-day strike at Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) started Friday, Reuters reported the same day.Samsung Electronics Labor Union was quoted as saying that 32,882 of 57,290 eligible union members have voted, while other unions such as National Samsung Electronics Union and Samsung Electronics Co. Union have voiced plans to oppose the deal.The report noted that the deal, which includes major bonuses for Samsung's memory chip workers, will need to be approved by a simple majority of eligible union members to take effect.Samsung, the shares of which fell over 2% at market close, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from.(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: Samsung Electronics Strikes Deal with Union; To Give KRW40 Trillion to Chip Employees as Bonus in 2026

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) struck a last-minute deal with its labor union, and as a result of the agreement, will distribute about 40 trillion won among its 78,000 employees in the semiconductors division, Bloomberg reported Friday.Under the proposed terms, Samsung employees could receive average bonuses of about 513 million won, the news agency reported, based on its calculations using the projected 2026 operating profit.The company reported average employee pay of 158 million won last year.Some estimates, including from Yonhap News, suggest workers in Samsung's memory chip division could receive payouts of around 600 million won each, the report said.Under the tentative deal, which still requires labor union approval, the chipmaker will distribute 10.5% of profit as stock bonuses and an additional 1.5% in cash. The bonus program will run annually for 10 years, given that profit targets are achieved. Analysts estimate Samsung's operating profit could surge sevenfold to around 333 trillion won in 2026.Shares of Samsung Electronics fell 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.)

South Korean Shares Surge on Optimism Over US-Iran Peace Deal, Samsung-Union Agreement

South Korean shares closed higher on Thursday after investors went on a stock purchasing spree amid growing optimism over a possible U.S.-Iran peace agreement and Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) tentative wage deal with its labor union.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi jumped by 606.64 points, or 8.4%, to end at 7,815.59. The Kosdaq also increased by 49.9 points, or 4.7%, to close at 1,105.97.The strong gains earlier in the day had led the Korea Exchange to activate a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock to prevent market overheating.In economic news, producer prices in South Korea increased 6.9% in April from a year earlier, accelerating from 4.1% in March and marking the strongest increase since October 2022, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Thursday.In corporate developments, Samsung and its largest labor union appeared to agree on a proposed wage agreement, which suspended plans for a strike scheduled from May 21 to June 7.Under the proposal, Samsung Electronics will introduce a special performance bonus program for semiconductor employees tied to profitability. The 10-year scheme sets annual profit targets of 200 trillion won from 2026 to 2028 and 100 trillion won from 2029 to 2035, the report said.Shares of the chipmaker jumped nearly 9% at market close on Thursday.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics, Labor Union Reach Tentative Wage Agreement, Strike Suspended; Shares Jump 7%

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and its largest labor union appeared to agree on a proposed wage agreement, which suspended plans for a strike scheduled from May 21 to June 7, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday.Under the proposal, Samsung Electronics will introduce a special performance bonus program for semiconductor employees tied to profitability. The 10-year scheme sets annual profit targets of 200 trillion won from 2026 to 2028 and 100 trillion won from 2029 to 2035, the report said.Union members will vote on the proposed 2026 wage agreement from May 23 through May 28, it said.Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped more than 7% 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.)

South Korean Shares Open Higher on Potential US-Iran Deal, Samsung-Union Tentative Wage Deal

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on Thursday, owing to gains made by technology stocks, amid growing optimism over a possible U.S.-Iran peace agreement and Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) tentative wage deal with its labor union.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 3.8%, or 277.42 points, to open at 7,486.37. The Kosdaq also increased 2.8%, or 29.23 points, to open at 1,085.30.U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington was ready to launch further attacks on Tehran if Iran failed to agree to a peace agreement, though he suggested the U.S. could wait a few days to "get the right answers."Trump described the situation as being "right on the borderline" and warned it could rapidly escalate. Six weeks after pausing Operation Epic Fury under a ceasefire, negotiations have made little progress, while increasing gasoline prices have weighed on Trump's approval ratings.Meanwhile, shares of Samsung Electronics gained more than 6% in Thursday morning trade after the labor union and management appeared to agree on a proposed wage agreement, which suspended plans for a strike scheduled to take place from May 21 to June 7.Under the proposal, Samsung Electronics will introduce a special performance bonus program for semiconductor employees tied to profitability. The 10-year scheme sets annual profit targets of 200 trillion won from 2026 to 2028 and 100 trillion won from 2029 to 2035.Union members will vote on the proposed 2026 wage agreement from May 23 through May 28.

Market Chatter: Samsung, Union Labor Talks Collapse; Strike to Proceed Thursday

Negotiations between Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and its largest labor union fell apart on Wednesday, raising the possibility of a strike that could disrupt global chip supplies and impact the national economy, Bloomberg News reported the same day.Union leader Choi Seung-ho said a general strike will proceed on Thursday, May 21, after Samsung's management rejected a government mediation proposal that had been accepted by the union, according to the report.Samsung argued the demands were "excessive," including raising compensation even for employees in loss-making divisions, the report said.South Korean labor minister Kim Young-hoon has since urged the two parties to negotiate directly hours following news of the talks collapsing, Bloomberg reported.(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 Lower for Second Day on Foreign Outflows, Renewed US-Iran Tension

South Korean shares closed lower for a second day on Wednesday after foreign investors continued their sell-off of Korean equities, and fresh tensions on the U.S.-Iran front made investors pessimistic about a peace pact anytime soon.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi decreased by 62.71 points, or 0.9%, to end at 7,208.95. The Kosdaq also declined by 28.29 points, or 2.6%, to close at 1,056.07.U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington could launch new strikes on Iran as early as next week if negotiations could not resolve the conflict and if Tehran continues to refuse the considerable concessions he wants before a deal can be framed to end the war.In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to extend a revived war beyond the Middle East if the US again began attacks against Tehran.In corporate news, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (KRX:009150) secured a supply agreement for silicon capacitors from an undisclosed client. The contract, valued at 1.56 trillion won, is valid till Dec. 31, 2028.Shares of the company jumped nearly 8% at market close.In other news, South Korea's main equity exchange, the Korea Exchange, is planning to launch weekly options on single stocks from June, expiring on Thursdays.The exchange is also gearing up to launch monthly and weekly exchange-traded fund (ETF) derivatives later in 2026, while expanding weekly options expiries for the Kospi 200 and Kosdaq 150 indexes to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from the current schedule of Mondays and Thursdays.

Market Chatter: Korea Exchange Plans to Launch Weekly Options on Single Stocks from June

South Korea's main equity exchange, the Korea Exchange, is planning to launch weekly options on single stocks from June, expiring on Thursdays, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.The exchange is also gearing up to launch monthly and weekly exchange trade fund (ETF) derivatives later in 2026, while expanding weekly options expiries for the Kospi 200 and Kosdaq 150 indexes to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from the current schedule of Mondays and Thursdays, the report said.The country's main bourse Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi is driven by gains made by heavyweight chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which led it to surge nearly 70% on a year-to-date basis. This surge has made the Kospi the world's best-performing major equity index, it said.Shares of Samsung Electronics fell nearly 3% 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.)

South Korean Stocks Close Sharply Lower; Samsung, Techwing Shares Slide

South Korean stocks closed sharply lower on Tuesday, tracking overnight declines on Wall Street driven by the sell-off of major tech stocks.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi decreased by 244.38 points, or 3.3%, to end at 7,271.66. The Kosdaq declined by 26.73 points, or 2.4%, to close at 1,084.36.In corporate news, Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and its largest labor union managed to narrow some differences in their fresh talks that resumed Monday, ⁠Yonhap Infomax reported Tuesday, citing the chairman of the ​National ​Labor Relations Commission.The court granted Samsung's request to limit potential union strike actions, lowering the risk of major disruptions in chip production.The development comes after the labor union threatened an 18-day strike, scheduled to begin Thursday, if demands are unmet.Shares of Samsung Electronics fell nearly 2% at market close.In other news, Techwing (KOSDAQ:089030) secured a chip inspection equipment supply contract from Samsung valued at 9.72 billion won. Shares of Techwing fell nearly 3% at market close.

Techwing Wins KRW9.72 Billion Chip Inspection Equipment Supply Contract from Samsung Electronics

Techwing (KOSDAQ:089030) secured a chip inspection equipment supply contract from Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), according to a Tuesday filing with the Korea Exchange.The contract, valued at 9.72 billion won, is valid till Aug. 13.Shares of Techwing fell nearly 3% at market close while those of Samsung Electronics declined about 2%.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics, Labor Union Narrow Gaps in Strike Talks; Shares Decline 4%

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and its largest labor union managed to narrow some differences in their fresh talks that resumed Monday, ⁠Yonhap Infomax reported Tuesday, citing the chairman of the ​National ​Labor Relations Commission.The court granted Samsung Electronics' request to limit potential union strike actions, lowering the risk of major disruptions in chip production. The ruling bars certain activities, including occupying company facilities, Bloomberg reported Monday.The labor union has threatened an 18-day strike, scheduled to begin Thursday, if demands are unmet. This has raised concerns over global supply chains, given the firm's key role in chip production. The dispute reflects broader labor tensions as workers seek a larger share of profits from the AI-driven chip boom, following failed mediation, the report said.Shares of Samsung Electronics fell by over 4% 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.)

South Korea's Kospi Opens Lower as Rising Crude Oil Prices Stoke Inflation Fears

South Korean shares opened lower on Tuesday as a Wall Street tech slump and rising crude oil prices, driven by stalled US-Iran negotiations, raised inflation fears.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 1.2%, or 90.38 points, to open at 7,425.66. The Kosdaq increased marginally to open at 1,111.36.Major market movers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), SK Hynix (KRX:000660), and Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380) were trading 3.2%, 3%, and 8.1% lower in Tuesday morning trade.West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed back to $107 a barrel on Monday, while Brent crude increased closer to $111, as uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations renewed concerns over its impact on supply disruptions in global energy markets.Prospects for an agreement have dimmed after reports said Iran's revised proposal fell short of US expectations. Washington considers the plan inadequate to secure a deal that would end the Middle East conflict and restore normal shipping, while Iranian officials argue US demands remain overly stringent.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.32%, while the broader S&P 500 inched down 0.07% and the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite fell 0.51%.

Nomura Adjusts Samsung Electronics' Price Target to KRW590,000 from KRW340,000, Keeps at Buy

South Korean Shares Rebound on Gains by Chipmakers Amid Continued US-Iran Negotiations

South Korean shares rebounded on Monday, owing to gains made by key market movers and chipmakers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which added nearly 4% and over 1% at market close.Negotiations continue between the US and Iran, with Pakistan as the mediator, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.Oil prices rose as much as 2% on Monday after US President Donald Trump warned that the "clock is ticking" for a peace agreement with Iran. Brent crude climbed to $110.72 a barrel by 7:30 GMT, extending gains to more than 50% since the start of the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 22.86 points, or 0.3%, to end at 7,516.04. The Kosdaq declined by 18.73 points, or 1.7%, to close at 1,111.09.In corporate news, Samsung Heavy Industries (KRX:010140) secured an order for three liquefied natural gas carriers from an Oceania-based shipper.The deal is valued at 1.124 trillion won. The shipbuilder will deliver the vessels by May 31, 2029, according to a Monday filing with the Korean Exchange.Shares of Samsung Heavy Industries rose nearly 1% at market close.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics, Labor Union to Renegotiate Wage Talks, Last Chance to Stall Strike; Shares Jump 4%

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and its largest labor union are expected to resume negotiations on Monday over wage and compensation issues in a final effort to prevent a strike that officials warn could severely impact the national economy, Bloomberg reported the same day.Prime Minister Kim Min-seok cautioned that a prolonged shutdown could cost up to 1 trillion won per day, urging both sides to reach an agreement before the May 21 deadline, following which the union has threatened to call for an 18-day walkout, the report said.The union is seeking higher performance-based bonuses, including allocating 15% of operating profit to worker bonuses, while Samsung has offered 10% of operating profit to bonuses and a one-time special compensation package.The South Korean government has indicated that it may consider emergency measures if negotiations fail between the company and its union, according to the report.Shares of Samsung Electronics rose more than 4% 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.)

Samsung Electronics Joins EU's Code of Conduct for Energy Smart Appliances; Shares Jump 4%

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) joined the European Union's Code of Conduct for Energy Smart Appliances, which is a voluntary agreement program promoting energy-efficient smart devices, the technology firm said Thursday.The initiative, led by the European Commission's research arm, aims to improve energy management by combining appliances with power systems, the release said.Shares of Samsung Electronics rose more than 4% in recent trade.

South Korean Shares Open at New High as Tech, Auto Stocks Track US Rally

South Korean shares opened higher on Thursday, owing to gains made by technology and automotive stocks and an overnight rally on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, added 0.4%, or 29.9 points, to open at 7,873.91. The Kosdaq also increased by 10.09 points to open at 1,187.02.Major market movers, chipmaker Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and automaker Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380) added nearly 4% and 3%, respectively, in Thursday morning trade.The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite added 1.2% on Wednesday, and the S&P 500 added 0.58%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.14%. Losses in telecommunications, utilities, and financials sectors dragged stocks lower.Investors kept a close eye on US-China talks this week, as US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit, marking his second in-person meeting with Xi Jinping since October 2025 and the first visit to China by a US president in nine years.Trump is expected to seek China's support in pressuring Iran to advance peace negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, according to a Guardian report.However, earlier this week, the US imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms accused of supporting Iranian oil shipments and offering satellite imagery allegedly used in Iranian military operations. Beijing has denied these allegations. Trump's visit also follows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's trip to Beijing last week.

South Korean Shares Hit New High on Chip, Auto Gains

South Korean shares closed at a new high on Wednesday, after rebounding from the previous day's losses, owing to gains made by chip and automotive stocks.Shares of major market movers Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), SK Kynix (KRX:000660), Hyundai Motor (KRX:005380), and Kia (KRX:000270) added nearly 2%, 8%, 10%, and about 7% at market close.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 200.86 points, or 2.6%, to end at 7,844.01. The Kosdaq declined by 2.36 points, or 0.2%, to close at 1,176.93.In economic news, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in South Korea in April edged up to 2.8% from 2.7% in March, data from Statistics Korea indicated Wednesday.On an annual basis, the unemployment rate remained unchanged.The number of unemployed people fell to 853,000 in April from 854,000 a year earlier.In corporate news, Hanwha Engine (KRX:082740) secured a contract for a ship engine from Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660), according to a Wednesday filing with the Korean Exchange.The contract, valued at 354.2 billion won, is valid until June 26, 2028.Shares of Hanwha Engine rose nearly 2% at market close.