StocksMedium12 August 2026
1 min read

Samsung and SK Hynix Surge in Seoul Defying Nasdaq Weakness

Key Facts

1Samsung Electronics shares rose over 7% and SK Hynix over 5% during Wednesday morning trading.
2Korean chip stocks defied the downward trend of the Nasdaq, which fell 0.6% due to geopolitical tensions.
3Export data and HBM pricing expectations point to a stronger and longer memory cycle than investors feared.

In a move reflecting the resilience of the Asian tech sector against global volatility, major South Korean semiconductor stocks recorded a significant surge during Wednesday morning trading. Samsung Electronics shares jumped over 7%, while SK Hynix rose more than 5%, signaling investor optimism regarding the future demand for advanced chips.

This robust performance defied the downward trend in US markets, where the Nasdaq index fell 0.6% due to geopolitical tensions. According to market data and analyst reports, this decoupling is attributed to strong export figures and HBM memory pricing expectations, which point to a memory cycle that is both stronger and longer than investors had previously feared.

Analysts suggest that the recent sell-off in Korean chip stocks was overdone relative to solid market fundamentals. While real-time price levels are currently unavailable, traders are monitoring global demand stability, with a focus on the memory growth cycle as a primary catalyst for sustained recovery in the Seoul market.

Sources:invezz.com