KRX:005930

South Korean Shares Plummet as US-Iran Tensions Halt Winning Streak

South Korean shares snapped a five-session winning streak on Tuesday, with the Kospi and Kosdaq both sliding 2.3% as stalled geopolitical negotiations in the Middle East prompted widespread profit-taking.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi decreased by 179.09 points, or 2.3%, to end at 7,643.15. The Kosdaq also declined by 28.05 points, or 2.3%, to close at 1,179.29.In corporate news, the head of Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) largest labor union, Choi Seung-ho, said a planned strike may be preventable if management improves transparency around compensation, citing growing distrust among employees and concerns over talent leaving for competitors.Cho criticized the company's discretionary bonus adjustment system as "opaque."Talks between the 70,000-member-strong union and management have resumed under the mediation of the Central Labor Relations Commission under South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor.The union has warned of an extended strike if negotiations fail and is pushing to remove caps on bonuses tied to company performance.Shares of the chipmaker fell over 2% at market close.In other news, CJ Seafood (KRX:011150) posted a first-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders of 1.29 billion won, swinging from an attributable net income of 231 million won a year earlier, according to a Tuesday filing with the Korea Exchange.Sales of the processed meat and seafood company were up 4.6% year over year to 55 billion won from 52.5 billion won.Shares of CJ Seafood fell more than 1% at market close.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics Union Open to Dodge Strike in Compensation Row

The head of Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) largest labor union, Choi Seung-ho, said a planned strike may be preventable if management improves transparency around compensation, citing growing distrust among employees and concerns over talent leaving for competitors, Nikkei Asia reported Tuesday.Cho criticized the company's discretionary bonus adjustment system as "opaque."Talks between the 70,000-member-strong union and management have resumed under the mediation of the Central Labor Relations Commission under South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor, the report said.The government's intervention suggests its concern about the possible economic impact of a strike at one of the country's key exporters, the report said.The union has warned of an extended strike if negotiations fail and is pushing to remove caps on bonuses tied to company performance. Bonuses are limited to 50% of annual pay under the current system, but the union is seeking a revised scheme that would allot up to 15% of each division's operating profit with no upper limit, it said.Shares of Samsung Electronics fell over 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 Open at New High on Extended Chip Rally Despite No Progress in US-Iran Talks

South Korean shares opened at a new high on Tuesday, owing to an extended rally of chip stocks, primarily led by Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660), which gained over 1% and nearly 4%, respectively, in morning trade.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 131.17 points to open at 7,953.41. The Kosdaq gained 7.56 points to open at 1,214.90.Investors appeared to pay no heed to the lack of progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks.U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the ceasefire with Iran was "on life support" after he rejected Tehran's latest proposal and deemed it unacceptable.Iran pushed back, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accusing the US of making unreasonable demands, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the U.S. must accept the Iranian proposal, and warned that Tehran was ready to respond to any aggression.

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: 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.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics to Discontinue Consumer Electronics Products Sales in China

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) plans to discontinue ​sales of some of its consumer electronics products in China amid strong competition with the firm's Chinese rivals, Reuters reported Thursday, citing a company statement.While Samsung Electronics' memory chip business is benefiting from the AI boom, its TV, home appliances, and smartphone segments face strong competition, the report said.The consumer electronics products maker said Monday that it had replaced the head of its TV business for the first time in over two years, according to the report.(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.)

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: Samsung Electronics' Market Valuation Tops $1 Trillion on Strong AI Chip Demand

Shares of Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) surged nearly 12% in Wednesday morning trade to hit a market valuation of $1 trillion, 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, the report said.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, it said.The firm's semiconductor wing had posted 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, 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.)

Market Chatter: Samsung, Apple Said in Talks for Potential US Chips Supply

Samsung Electronics Co (KRX:005930) reportedly met with Apple executives for a possible chipmaking services and supply deal in the US.Bloomberg News reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, that the South Korean chipmaker held meetings at its Texas plant, which is still under development, for its potential production of main processors for Apple devices.Aside from Samsung, Apple is also said to be in talks with Intel as it mulls an alternative supplier to its longtime partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. No orders have been made yet and Apple may ultimately decide not to pursue a secondary option, the report added.Apple, Intel and Samsung did not immediately respond to' requests for comment.(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: 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.)

Nomura Adjusts Samsung Electronics' Price Target to KRW340,000 From KRW320,000, Keeps at Buy

Samsung Electronics' Q1 Results Soar Eightfold to Record High

Samsung Electronics' (KRX:005930) operating income surged eightfold in the first quarter, an all-time high, as sales rose to a quarterly record.Operating income surged 756% to 57.2 trillion won, up 756% from 6.69 trillion won a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.LSEG SmartEstimate forecast operating profit of 55.28 trillion won, CNBC reported separately.The South Korean chipmaker's sales jumped 69% year over year to an all-time quarterly high of 133.9 trillion won from 79.14 trillion won.Forecasts by LSEG SmartEstimate showed revenue to have reached 132.69 trillion won, according to CNBC.Samsung Electronics' device solutions division posted an operating profit of 53.7 trillion won as sales surged 86% quarterly to 81.7 trillion won, due to an increase in average selling prices, according to a Thursday news release.The company's semiconductor arm surpassed quarterly sales by addressing high-value-added artificial intelligence demand. Industry-wide memory price increases also contributed to the surge, Samsung said.Results at the semiconductor unit also surpassed the average analyst estimate of 35.3 trillion won, Bloomberg reported separately the same day.The device experience division's sales rose 19% on the launch of Samsung's new flagship smartphones.Sales in the area also grew despite an increase in cost pressures, Samsung said.The display division's operating profit reached 400 billion won, while consolidated revenue reached 6.7 trillion won.Its small and medium display business saw lower results due to seasonal effects and high memory prices.The mobile or MX business, saw profit rise to 2.8 trillion won while sales jumped to 38.1 trillion won, attributable to a "premium product mix," Samsung said.Samsung Electronics forecasts semiconductors to steer growth in the second quarter, with the memory business expected to stay strong despite AI infrastructure expansion in the three months through June.Memory demand is seen to stay strong in the second half with increasing adoption of AI and large language model services, Samsung said.By the second quarter, Samsung forecasts full use of advanced-node production lines.

Samsung Electronics' Q1 Operating Income, Sales Jump

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) posted first-quarter operating income of 57.23 trillion won, up 756% from 6.69 trillion won a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean chipmaker's sales jumped 69% year over year to an all-time quarterly high of 133.87 trillion won from 79.14 trillion won.

South Korean Shares Open at New High on Samsung Electronics, US Big Tech's Stellar Q1 Earnings

South Korean shares opened higher on Thursday, starting the trading at a new high after market mover Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) reported strong first-quarter sales and operating income.In addition, strong Q1 earnings by top US firms such as Alphabet, Amazon.com, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft also boosted sentiment. The strong results also restored investor confidence in the AI sector boom.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 48.49 points, to open at 6,739.39. The Kosdaq marginally gained to open at 1,224.75.Samsung Electronics posted first-quarter operating income of 57.2 trillion won, up 756% from 6.69 trillion won a year earlier. The South Korean chipmaker's sales jumped 69% year over year to 133.9 trillion won from 79.1 trillion won.The company said that its highest-ever quarterly revenue and operating profit were achieved via AI technology innovation and proactive market response. Favorable currency movements, particularly a stronger greenback, raised operating profit by about 1.8 trillion won on-quarter in Q1, primarily driven by the company's parts business.

Market Chatter: Samsung Electronics to Exit China's Home Appliance and Television Market in 2026

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) plans to exit the Chinese home appliance and television market and instead focus on its U.S. business, Nikkei Asia reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The South Korean company plans to gradually deplete its inventory in China and end sales in the country this year, the report said.Another reason for exiting the Chinese market is the strong competition with the firm's Chinese rivals, the report said.Samsung has not made any decisions on the matter, the company reportedly told Nikkei.Shares of the company fell more than 1% 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.)

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.