Why did Seoul stocks open higher on Wednesday?

Investor sentiment improved because of an extended rally in AI-related stocks and hopes that Middle East tensions would ease. The article also said diplomatic efforts were under way to end the tension, which helped oil prices fall.

Which Korean chip stocks led the Seoul market rally?

Samsung Electronics rose 2.71 percent and SK hynix gained 2.07 percent. SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, also climbed 4.24 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose 3.55 percent.

What were the KOSPI and won trading levels in early Wednesday trade?

The benchmark KOSPI was at 7,123.27, up 105.36 points, or 1.5 percent, as of 9:15 a.m. The Korean won traded at 1,349.7 won per U.S. dollar, strengthening 6.8 won from the previous stock trading session.

Seoul stocks open sharply higher on chip gains, easing Mideast tensions

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Summary

Seoul stocks opened sharply higher Wednesday as chip gains and easing Middle East tensions lifted investor sentiment. The KOSPI rose 105.36 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,123.27 at 9:15 a.m. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both advanced, while the won strengthened against the dollar. The rally followed back-to-back record closes for the Nasdaq Composite and continued strength in AI-related shares.

Key Facts

The KOSPI was up 105.36 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,123.27 as of 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Samsung Electronics rose 2.71 percent and SK hynix gained 2.07 percent in Seoul trading.
SK Square advanced 4.24 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics jumped 3.55 percent.
The won was trading at 1,349.7 won against the U.S. dollar, up 6.8 won from the previous stock trading session.
The article said diplomatic efforts were under way to end Middle East tensions, which helped oil prices fall.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 9:26 am KST

Officials work at a dealing room in Hana Bank headquarters, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Korean stocks opened sharply higher Wednesday, led by gains in tech heavyweights, following the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite's back-to-back record closes.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 105.36 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,123.27 as of 9:15 a.m.

On Tuesday (local time), U.S. stocks ended mixed, led by a persistent rally in technology shares that propelled the Nasdaq Composite 0.45 percent higher to another record close. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.36 percent, while the S&P 500 declined 0.06 percent.

Investor sentiment improved sharply, backed by an extended rally in stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI), as well as hopes for easing tensions in the Middle East.

Diplomatic efforts are under way to end the Middle East tension, which worked to help oil prices fall.

In Seoul, most market heavyweights traded higher.

Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 2.71 percent, and chip giant SK hynix gained 2.07 percent.

SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, advanced 4.24 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, jumped 3.55 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,349.7 won against the U.S. dollar, up 6.8 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.

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