South Korean shares rise over 1%, as chipmakers gain on strong exports

SK hynix

21/09/2026 07:49

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
For the midday report, please click nL1N45D00T
SEOUL, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose more than 1% on Monday, led by gains in chipmakers after upbeat domestic export data and a rally in US semiconductor stocks in the previous session. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 ended up 113.49 points, or 1.65%, at 7,007.72, its highest closing level since September 10.
** Heavyweight chipmakers Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 4.98% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 0.59%. 
** South Korea's exports for the first 20 days of this month hit a record high on a surge in chip sales, customs data showed on the day.
** In the US, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index .SOX rose 2.8% on Friday. .N
** Of the total 914 traded issues on the KOSPI, 310 shares advanced, while 552 declined. 
** "The chip sector was a rare gainer, with Samsung Electronics rising sharply on expectations of price hikes," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. "There are investor hopes around several AI-related conferences this week as well as US talks with Iran and China."    
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 3.30%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.64% and down 1.56%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 1.86%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 0.29%.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 171.9 billion won ($124.38 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,381.0 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.33% higher than its previous close at 1,385.5.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.05 point to 102.24.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 2.0 basis points to 4.047%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 1 basis point to 4.450%.
     
($1 = 1,382.0000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))