07.09.202601:40:15UTC+00South Korean Shares Rally on AI Optimism

The benchmark KOSPI advanced nearly 3% to around 6,885 on Monday, rising for a third consecutive session as semiconductor shares led the gains. The PHLX Semiconductor Index climbed 3.38% on optimism that OpenAI’s forthcoming GPT‑6 Astra model will boost demand for memory chips.

Among heavyweight chipmakers, Samsung Electronics gained close to 4%, while SK hynix jumped more than 6%. Other notable movers included SK Square, up 5.4%; Hyundai Motor, 1.9%; Doosan Enerbility, 5.1%; Shinhan Financial Group, 2.3%; and LG Electronics, which surged 9.4%.

Supporting sentiment, South Korea’s exports have reached a record $709.4 billion so far this year, already surpassing the previous full‑year high set in 2025. Semiconductor exports soared 169.6% in the January–August period, bolstering expectations for strong corporate earnings and solid economic growth.

On the risk front, escalating US–Iran tensions remained a concern, while stronger‑than‑expected US employment data increased the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September and pushed US Treasury yields higher.