Kospi Opens Over 2% as Samsung and SK Hynix Lead Chip Rally

South Korea’s Kospi index jumped as much as 2.7 percent Monday. The tech-led rebound came as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix advanced ahead of closely watched earnings.

The index briefly traded above 8,300 points before easing slightly towards the 8,150 mark. Japan’s Nikkei 225 also broke above 70,000 points. It rose 0.73 percent as chip stocks rallied across the region.

Samsung and SK Hynix Extend the Chip Rebound

Samsung Electronics climbed as much as 4 percent in early trading. The gains build on last week’s rebound in chip stocks. SK Hynix rose as much as 1.8 percent, and Kioxia advanced nearly 1 percent in Japan. SoftBank fell more than 2 percent, the lone major decliner.

Early Monday trading for the KOSPI saw an impressive opening spike. Image Source: Trading View

The moves follow a volatile stretch for Korean chip stocks. Samsung and SK Hynix have swung sharply on memory pricing disputes and trillion-dollar investment pledges this year. The Kospi itself has triggered trading halts repeatedly in 2026 amid AI-driven volatility.

Other Kospi movers posted smaller swings. Hyundai Motor and Hanwha Aerospace notched modest gains, while LG Energy Solution slipped. The won weakened to 1,533.90 against the dollar, down 8.3 won from Friday’s close.

Earnings and SpaceX Listing Ahead

Traders are also positioning ahead of SpaceX’s Nasdaq 100 inclusion on Tuesday. They are betting the listing could lift sentiment across AI-linked tech names in Asia. The rally follows recent weeks in which the Kospi flashed warning signs over stretched AI chip valuations.

Samsung’s preliminary second-quarter results are due Tuesday. They will likely determine whether Monday’s gains hold, as investors weigh whether AI infrastructure spending is turning into profit.

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