FX.co ★ KOSPI Climbs on Strong Semiconductor Momentum

On Thursday, the KOSPI index increased by 1.49%, closing at 2,812 points, primarily due to a significant rebound in semiconductor exports. Shipments of chips surged by 50.9% year-on-year, reaching $13.4 billion, underscoring strong global demand for memory chips and high-performance components, which are key elements of South Korea's export-centric economy. This surge in the semiconductor sector bolstered investor confidence, indicating a recovery from the cyclical downturns and disruptions in supply chains that had previously impacted the sector. Investor sentiment was further buoyed by anticipated growth in the tech industry, aided by the forthcoming APEC 2025 summit in Gyeongju and sustained innovation investments by companies such as Samsung and LG. On the corporate side, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics saw their stocks rise by 2.99% and 1.73%, respectively, while companies like Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Motor also posted gains of 6.98% and 1.72%. However, KB Financial Group and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries experienced declines of 1.48% and 0.93% respectively.