South Korean shares close at record high as Samsung jumps on chip optimism

Published on 09/22/2025 at 03:00 am EDT

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
• Korean won strengthens against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Monday to end at a record high, as Samsung Electronics rallied on optimism around the semiconductor industry.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended up 23.41 points, or 0.68%, at 3,468.65, its highest closing level on record. During the session, it hit an all-time high at 3,482.25.
** Samsung Electronics rose 4.77% to its highest level since July 2024. The chipmaker alone accounts for nearly 10% of the benchmark index.
** "Last week, SK Hynix rose sharply on outlook hopes. This week, Samsung Electronics is rising on cheaper valuation," said Park Kwang-nam, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Peer chipmaker SK Hynix fell 0.57%.
** Investor focus is on U.S. chip rival Micron Technology's earnings release later this week for clues on the industry outlook.
** Morgan Stanley raised its rating of South Korea's technology industry on Monday to "Attractive" from "In-Line" with upgrades in target prices for both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 0.14%, while Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 1.87% and 0.30%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings shed 0.88%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics rose 0.20%.
** Of the total 930 traded issues, 334 shares advanced, while 547 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 479.1 billion won ($344.14 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,392.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.32% higher than its previous close at 1,397.0.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 2.4 basis points to 2.461%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 4.6 basis points to 2.836%. ($1 = 1,392.1800 won)
 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich) 

Sumber : Reuters