Samsung Electronics and SK hynix rebounded 4% and 5% respectively in early trading on the 21st, as stronger-than-expected results from U.S. AI server maker Super Micro Computer eased concerns over the profitability of artificial intelligence investments and drew buyers back to chip stocks. Lower oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields also supported a rebound in the domestic market, which had tumbled the previous day.
Samsung Electronics traded at 221,000 won as of 9:15 a.m., up 9,500 won or 4.49% from the previous session, according to the Korea Exchange. SK hynix rose 69,000 won, or 5.64%, to 1.292 million won. Samsung Electronics preferred shares gained 4.58%, SK Square 4.86% and Samsung Electro-Mechanics 3.03%. The KOSPI opened at 5,666.34, up 113.60 points or 2.05% from the previous close.
The KOSDAQ opened at 793.40, up 11.43 points or 1.46%. Alteogen traded at 242,000 won as of 9:15 a.m., up 4.76%, while EcoPro rose 3.36%, EcoPro BM 5.32%, Jusung Engineering 3.99% and Samchundang Pharm 3.17%. Chip-related names also advanced, with EO Technics up 2.73%, LEENO Industrial 2.07% and Wonik IPS 2.42%.
The trigger for the rebound in Korean chip stocks was Super Micro's earnings, released after the close of the U.S. regular session. The company's preliminary first-quarter revenue came in at $19 billion, beating market expectations of $15 billion. Reassured that large-scale AI infrastructure spending is translating into actual sales, Super Micro shares jumped more than 13% in after-hours trading, while Micron Technology and SanDisk each rose more than 2%. That marked a shift from the regular session, where Micron fell 1.0% and Nvidia 0.3%.
U.S. stocks closed broadly higher overnight on solid corporate earnings and falling oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 52,495.88 on the 20th, up 529.85 points or 1.02% from the previous session. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 21.84 points, or 0.28%, to 7,712.57. The Nasdaq Composite, however, slipped 6.07 points, or 0.02%, to 26,424.82, weighed down by declines in large-cap technology shares including Apple, down 1.00%, and Meta Platforms, down 1.59%.
Hopes for diplomatic mediation between the United States and Iran eased pressure on oil prices. With the possibility of mediation by Pakistan and Qatar in focus, Brent crude, which had approached $112 a barrel during the session, fell below $109.
Analysts said, however, that a sustained rebound in the Korean market will require confirmation of improving foreign buying. Foreign investors turned net buyers of Samsung Electronics for three consecutive sessions starting on the 16th of this month, after 12 straight sessions of net selling. Their net purchases over that period totaled about 850 billion won. For SK hynix, by contrast, they extended net selling to an 18th consecutive session, leaving trading patterns divided even among large-cap chipmakers.
