Key facts
- Seoul stocks opened 1.2% higher on Friday.
- The KOSPI index gained 91.66 points to 7,739.75 at the opening bell.
- Bargain hunting in semiconductor shares drove the gains.
- The KOSPI had fallen 7.89% in the prior session.
- U.S. tech stocks, including the Nasdaq and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, declined overnight.
- Anthropic is reportedly in talks with Samsung Electronics regarding custom AI chip development.
Seoul stocks opened higher on Friday, July 3, 2026, as investors engaged in bargain hunting for semiconductor shares following a significant sell-off in the previous trading session. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 91.66 points, or 1.2 percent, to reach 7,739.75 at the opening bell.
This rebound comes after the KOSPI experienced a sharp decline of 7.89 percent in the preceding session, heavily influenced by substantial sell-offs in major semiconductor companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Overnight trading in the U.S. presented a mixed picture. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher, gaining over 1 percent to a record high, supported by weaker-than-expected June jobs data that eased concerns about imminent interest rate hikes. However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.8 percent, primarily due to another significant decline in semiconductor stocks. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index was particularly hard-hit, tumbling 5.4 percent and marking its second consecutive session of losses.
Adding to market interest, reports surfaced indicating that AI startup Anthropic is in discussions with Samsung Electronics to collaborate on the development of a custom AI chip.