14.10.202601:42:18UTC+00South Korean Shares Snap 5-Day Decline

The benchmark KOSPI advanced nearly 1% to around 6,080 on Wednesday, ending a five-day losing streak that had brought the index to its lowest level in more than two months. The rebound was driven by renewed buying in semiconductor stocks after a sharp selloff in the previous session. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix gained nearly 2% and more than 1%, respectively, recouping part of Tuesday’s steep declines of 7.39% and 10.09%.

The recovery extended to other major blue chips, including SK Square (up 1.28%), LG Energy Solution (2.7%), Hyundai Motor (1.1%), Kia Corporation (1.4%), Hyundai Mobis (4.1%), and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (1.7%).

However, sentiment in the chip sector remained fragile. Persistent worries about the technological progress of Chinese chipmaker CXMT and doubts about the durability of AI-related spending continued to weigh on the industry. Investors were also cautious ahead of the US September inflation report, as a potential acceleration in consumer prices could complicate the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook and heighten concerns over the valuation of technology stocks.