South Korean shares hit record as chipmakers rally ahead of earnings

LG Energy Solution

27/04/2026 07:57

KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

For the midday report, please click nL1N41A00R

SEOUL, April 27 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares jumped more than 2% to a record close on Monday, as chipmakers rallied ahead of major earnings due to be released later this week.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 139.40 points, or 2.15%, at 6,615.03.

** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 2.28%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 5.73% to an all-time high, after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index .SOX surged 4.3% on Friday to a record high.

** Samsung Electronics is scheduled to report its first-quarter results later this week.

** Also this week, investors will focus on the earnings reports of major U.S. technology companies for clues on global artificial intelligence investments and their impact on semiconductor demand.

** "When it comes to the earnings of big tech companies, there will be growth in cloud services, but the focus will be on profit margins," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.

** On the macroeconomic front, South Korea will release its monthly trade data for April later this week.

** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 3.53%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 2.14% and down 0.52%, respectively.

** Of the total 895 traded issues, 496 shares advanced, while 360 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 889.1 billion won ($603.97 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,472.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.29% higher than its previous close at 1,476.8.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell 0.6 basis point to 3.493%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 0.9 bp to 3.820%.

($1 = 1,472.1000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))