Seoul, Jan 18, 2026, 07:52 KST — Market closed.
- SK hynix closed Friday with a 0.93% gain, finishing at 756,000 won.
- The KOSPI hit a new high, closing at 4,840.74, driven by gains in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
SK hynix Inc. shares (000660.KS) closed Friday at 756,000 won, gaining 0.93%. The price fluctuated between 747,000 and 763,000 won, with roughly 3.7 million shares changing hands, per the company’s investor relations page.
South Korea’s benchmark extended its rally with another strong finish, hitting new highs this year thanks to heavy buying in major chip stocks. “Gains from Samsung Electronics drove the record-breaking rally,” noted Lee Jae-won, an analyst at Shinhan Securities, according to local reports. Korea Joongang Daily
The semiconductor sector has stayed strong since Taiwan’s TSMC announced a more aggressive investment plan for 2026, signaling robust AI-driven demand throughout the supply chain. “The market has underestimated again how large is the demand for AI applications,” said Han Dieperink, chief investment officer at Aureus, in an interview with Reuters. Reuters
The next session kicks off with fresh policy jitters. South Korea’s trade minister noted that the new U.S. proclamation slapping a 25% tariff on certain advanced AI chips should have limited immediate impact since memory chips are currently excluded. Still, he cautioned it’s “not yet time to be reassured” amid uncertainty over a possible second phase. Reuters
For SK hynix investors, the main bet remains on high-bandwidth memory, or HBM — stacked DRAM that works with AI accelerators. This week, the company announced a 19 trillion won ($12.9 billion) investment in a cutting-edge chip packaging facility in South Korea, targeting growing HBM demand. Macquarie Equity Research estimated SK hynix’s HBM market share at 61% last year.
Executives also indicated they’re accelerating capacity timelines. CEO Sungsoo Ryu said SK hynix is fast-tracking the opening of a new fab in Yongin, aiming to start operations by February 2027. The company plans to begin processing silicon wafers next month at its M15X plant in Cheongju to produce HBM chips.
Global risk appetite continues to sway markets as the week unfolds, especially for momentum-driven chip stocks. U.S. equities closed almost unchanged on Friday, with chipmakers managing to hold their ground. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, warned that “January could be a choppy month.” Reuters
Micron’s surge has set new benchmarks, and Morgan Stanley’s Shawn Kim told MarketWatch the AI inference ramp-up might boost DRAM demand, tightening supply and supporting prices — conditions likely to benefit Asian memory stocks as well.
On the home front, some strategists are already advising clients to look past semiconductors as the won and interest rates start to gain influence. “Demand is likely to rotate toward defense, shipbuilding, power equipment and health care,” said Lee Sang-yeon, a researcher at Shinyoung Securities, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Korea Joongang Daily
NH Investment & Securities highlighted a straightforward positioning risk: 74% of the recent KOSPI market cap jump was driven by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. They noted that the short-term price swings in these two shares might prompt traders to cash out, even if earnings forecasts remain solid.
SK hynix’s next major trigger will be its quarterly earnings report. According to the company’s IR calendar, the FY2025 fourth-quarter results are set for Jan. 29 at 9:00 a.m. KST. Investors will be watching closely for updates on HBM supply, pricing trends, and capital expenditure plans.
