SEOUL, Feb 1, 2026, 08:06 (KST) — Market closed.
- Shares closed Friday at 909,000 won, rising 5.6% from the previous session.
- AI-driven memory shortages are driving chip prices higher, sparking concerns about demand in phones and PCs.
- Attention turns to February’s supply increases and new indicators from high-bandwidth memory orders.
SK hynix (000660.KS) shares closed Friday up 5.57% at 909,000 won, having hit 931,000 won earlier in the session. The stock has climbed roughly 19% over the past week. The KOSPI benchmark edged up 0.06% to finish at 5,224.36. The market will reopen Monday.
Memory pricing is spilling over into the broader tech sector, hitting everything from servers to smartphones. Apple CEO Tim Cook noted, “We do continue to see market pricing for memory increasing significantly.” That’s amid SK hynix and Samsung Electronics focusing on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI servers. Samsung also confirmed capacity expansion will stay tight through 2026 and 2027. SK hynix executive Park Joon Deok told analysts that customers are “having difficulties securing memory supplies.” Macquarie Equity Research estimates SK hynix held a 61% share of the HBM market last year, outpacing Samsung and Micron Technology. SK hynix also remains a crucial supplier for Nvidia. reuters.com
Traders are wrestling with a blend of tight supply, surging AI-server demand, and a lingering consumer-electronics slump. SK hynix stands to gain, thanks to premium products and sturdier pricing. The key question this week: how quickly will rising prices begin to curb volumes in other segments?
Earlier this week, the chipmaker posted record quarterly operating profits, attributing rapid memory demand growth to the AI surge. It revealed plans to cancel 12.2 trillion won in treasury shares. Meanwhile, TrendForce highlighted steep contract price increases for key DRAM products and predicted more gains in the coming quarter.
Korea Ratings upgraded SK hynix’s corporate bond rating to AA+ (stable) from AA (positive) on Jan. 29.
The company is also considering launching an AI-focused investment arm in the United States. According to a regulatory filing, several options are being explored following a report from Maeil Business Newspaper, which indicated the unit would oversee roughly 10 trillion won in AI-related overseas assets tied to SK Group affiliates, including investments in TerraPower.
Competition remains a key factor. Samsung is ramping up its AI memory efforts, while Micron continues to hold its ground. Even with prices on the rise, any sign that competitors are catching up faster than anticipated can quickly sour sentiment.
But the squeeze boosting margins can work both ways. If phone and PC makers reduce memory content, delay product launches, or postpone orders, demand can drop quickly. Memory markets are known to reverse sharply when inventories build up.
Trading kicks off again Monday, with investors keen to gauge any new signals on memory pricing and supply control. They’ll also be watching closely to see if the recent rally sparks some profit-taking after its rapid pace last week.
Looking ahead to February, Samsung is gearing up to start producing HBM4 memory chips for Nvidia, according to a source who spoke to Reuters. At the same time, SK hynix plans to begin loading silicon wafers into its new M15X fab for HBM chip production. These production ramps—and any updates on HBM4 orders—could be pivotal for SK hynix’s next move in the market.
