** The benchmark KOSPI was up 107.14 points, or 3.10%, at 3,562.97, as of 0246 GMT, after hitting its record high at 3,565.96.** Samsung Electronics rose more than 4% to its highest level since January 2021, and SK Hynix gained more than 12% to an all-time high.
** The two chipmakers, accounting for nearly 30% of the benchmark index by market capitalisation, signed a deal on Wednesday to supply memory chips for OpenAI’s data centres.
** Samsung Electronics’ affiliates Samsung SDI, Samsung C&T and Samsung SDS also rose sharply on the deal. ** “We had expected some profit-taking before holidays, but the semiconductor sector is leading the benchmark’s gains with strong foreign inflows on upbeat exports and the OpenAI deal,” said Lee Sung-hoon, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities. ** The global AI boom has been driving strong demand for semiconductors, which led South Korea’s exports to rise in September at the fastest pace in 14 months despite a hit from U.S. tariffs, blowing past market expectations.
** Foreigners were net buyers of local shares worth 1.72 trillion won ($1.23 billion).
** South Korean financial markets will be closed from October 3 to October 9 for public holidays.
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 1.44%, while Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 1.97% and 2.78%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings shed 0.18%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics rose 0.50%.
** The won was quoted at 1,401.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.12% higher than its previous close at 1,403.0.
** The most-liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 1 basis point to 2.588%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 0.1 bp to 2.959%. ($1 = 1,401.4000 won).
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