Key facts
- KOSPI index rose 5.8% to 5,965.13 by 11:20 a.m. Wednesday.
- SK hynix reported record quarterly revenue and operating profit.
- SK hynix announced a shareholder return program worth over 100 trillion won for 2026.
- Samsung Electronics gained 7.77%, SK hynix 7.76%, SK Square 8.7%, Samsung Electro-Mechanics 9.16%.
South Korean stocks surged nearly 6 percent on Wednesday morning, driven by strong performance from chipmakers following SK hynix's announcement of record quarterly earnings and a significant shareholder return program. The benchmark KOSPI index climbed 5.8 percent to 5,965.13 by 11:20 a.m. The rally prompted the Korea Exchange to activate a buy-side sidecar, temporarily halting program buy orders. Overnight gains in U.S. tech and semiconductor stocks also boosted sentiment. SK hynix reported record revenue and operating profit for the third quarter, and announced a shareholder return program exceeding 100 trillion won for 2026. Major companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix saw substantial gains.