South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI rose more than 1% to around 6,900 on Thursday, extending its winning streak to a third consecutive session, buoyed by stronger-than-expected results from Nvidia. The US chipmaker reported that its second-quarter revenue more than doubled, and projected fiscal 2028 income growth of 70%, beating analyst forecasts and easing concerns about future demand for AI and semiconductors.
Semiconductor shares led the rally, with Samsung Electronics advancing over 1% and SK hynix gaining more than 2%. Other notable gainers included LG Energy Solution (+3.9%), Hanwha Aerospace (+2.7%), KB Financial Group (+1.8%), Shinhan Financial Group (+2.2%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (+1.1%).
In macroeconomic developments, the Bank of Korea upgraded its 2026 growth outlook to 3.3% from 2.6%, citing stronger-than-anticipated semiconductor exports and a solid recovery in domestic economic activity. At the same time, the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3%, marking a second consecutive hike in response to persistent inflationary pressures.
