The South Korean benchmark index KOSPI hit a historic peak on Monday amid a rally in shares of the largest chipmakers: investors were aggressively buying up stocks related to artificial intelligence, following the bullish trend on Wall Street.
KOSPI pumped up by 3.6%, hitting an all-time high at 8,131.15 points, continuing its bullish run this year. The big players leading the charge were memory giants — Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) and SK Hynix (KS:000660).
Since the start of 2026, the benchmark index has surged over 90%.
On Monday, SK Hynix shares jumped over 7%, while Samsung Electronics stocks added about 3%.
Investor interest in semiconductor stocks remained high amid expectations of sustained demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in servers and AI accelerators. Recent financial results from Nvidia and optimism regarding global investments in AI infrastructure also boosted sentiment in the Asian tech stock sector.
The rally unfolded against the backdrop of a steady increase in semiconductor exports from South Korea.
Overall risk appetite was also supported by cautious optimism around decreasing tensions in the Middle East and prospects for progress in negotiations between the US and Iran, which contributed to stabilizing global markets and lowering oil prices.