[Edaily Reporter Kim Kyung-eun ] SamsungElectronics and SK hynix are both down by around 3% in premarket trading on the 2nd. Selling pressure continues to weigh on major domestic semiconductor stocks following the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index’s sharp drop of more than 7% on the New York Stock Exchange last weekend.

According to MP Doctor on the 2nd, as of 8:26 a.m. that day, SamsungElectronics(005930)was trading at 217,000 won, down 8,000 won (3.56%) from the previous trading day. At the same time, SK hynix(000660)was trading at 1,367,000 won, down 51,000 won (3.60%).

Semiconductor-related stocks are also trading lower. SKSQUARE(402340)is trading at 851,000 won, down 5.13%, while SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)is trading at 1,145,000 won, down 4.26%.

On the 30th of last month (local time), the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index closed at 10,688.80 on the New York Stock Exchange, plummeting 7.20% from the previous trading day. Major semiconductor stocks fell across the board, including Intel, which plummeted 28.58%, as well as AMD (-10.88%), NVIDIA (-4.22%), Broadcom (-5.48%), and TSMC (-5.95%).

This was driven by renewed concerns over the profitability of artificial intelligence (AI) investments by major U.S. tech companies. As worries grew over deteriorating cash flow and delays in recouping investment funds due to massive capital expenditures, combined with Intel’s disappointing earnings outlook, selling pressure spread across the entire semiconductor sector.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index also fell 2.86%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.82% and 1.09%, respectively.

Han Ji-young, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, said, “Last Friday’s sharp decline in AI stocks—including semiconductors and hardware—in both South Korea and the U.S. seemed excessive relative to changes in earnings and profit forecasts, so there is room for bargain-hunting to emerge,” but added, “We need to keep in mind that volatility could increase this week as we navigate a series of major events.”

Previously, on the 30th of last month, the KOSPI closed at 5,730.74, down 3.48% from the previous trading day. The index extended its losses to as much as 5.70% during the session, triggering a sell-side circuit breaker.