[Edaily Reporter kyoungeun kim ] SamsungElectronics(005930)and SK hynix(000660)are holding up well on the 17th despite the shock of a sharp decline in the U.S. semiconductor index, and are even leading the global market.
According to MP Doctor, as of 9:10 a.m. today, SamsungElectronics is trading at 254,000 won, down 0.39% from the previous trading day, while SK hynix is trading at 1,845,000 won, up 0.16%.
Compared to the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) in the U.S., which fell a cumulative 4.3% over two trading days on the 15th and 16th—when the Korean stock market was closed—the decline here appears significantly more limited.
The direct trigger for the weakness in the U.S. stock market was the unveiling of a new model by Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI. Claims that the new model had significantly narrowed the performance gap with top-tier U.S. AI models fueled concerns about China’s technological competitiveness, compounded by the delay in the release of Alphabet’s Gemini 3.5 and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Nevertheless, as leading domestic semiconductor stocks held up well, the view that the KOSPI is emerging as a leading indicator of global AI investment sentiment is gaining traction. Ivan Fineses, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Tigris Financial Partners, commented, “South Korea has effectively become part of the same volatility ecosystem as the Nasdaq and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index,” adding, “SamsungElectronics, SK hynix, and the KOSPI are serving as indicators for gauging AI and semiconductor investment risks before the New York stock market opens.”
According to a Bloomberg analysis, the sensitivity between the KOSPI and the Nasdaq 100 during downturns in the South Korean stock market has risen to its highest level since 1990 this month.
Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at DaishinSecurities, said, “Earnings outlooks have not been significantly undermined despite the stock price correction in the semiconductor sector,” adding, “As the sharp drop in stock prices has made valuations more attractive, there is a possibility that bargain-hunting will flow in during the earnings confirmation process.”
SK hynix is
The market’s primary focus is SK hynix’s earnings release scheduled for the 29th. The key question is whether the earnings and future outlooks of semiconductor companies, including SK hynix, can revive the recently dampened investor sentiment. SK hynix’s operating profit forecasts for 2026 and 2027 were initially raised to 276.8 trillion won and 404.4 trillion won, respectively, following the release of SamsungElectronics’ preliminary earnings, but have recently been revised slightly downward to 274.2 trillion won and 401.3 trillion won.