South Korean stocks rose on strength in semiconductor shares, with the KOSPI closing up approximately 2%. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix posted strong gains, while Micron’s earnings announced the same day and export trends provided buying catalysts.
South Korean stocks rose following strong earnings from U.S. semiconductor company Micron and robust South Korean semiconductor exports, with the KOSPI closing at 6,971.35, up 1.95% from the previous day. Top constituents Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose 2.79% and 3.21%, respectively.
Micron reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $54.23 billion, substantially exceeding the market forecast of $51.07 billion and heightening expectations of tight supply and demand. This broadened expectations for earnings growth among semiconductor stocks and led semiconductor-related shares to rebound.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the same day, September semiconductor exports surged 26.28% year on year to $60.3 billion, exceeding $60 billion for the first time.
The KOSDAQ market surged across its largest companies, closing up 4.48%. Alteogen, the KOSDAQ company with the largest market capitalization, rose 4.13%, while EcoPro rose 5.58%, EcoPro BM 5.13% and Jusung Engineering 3.66%.