Samsung Slides as SK hynix Splits Seoul Chip Trade
ASIA OPEN • LIVE / DELAYED DATA
Memory trade splits as Samsung slides and SK hynix rises
Seoul is the pressure point. Samsung’s record-sized shareholder-return signal has not prevented profit-taking, while SK hynix extends its buyback-led relative strength. Tokyo is mildly positive and oil is easing, but trade and Hormuz risks still cap conviction.
Active equity trading: Tokyo, Seoul, Taiwan and Singapore regular sessions; Hong Kong opening auction. Mainland China remains pre-open at this timestamp.
Opening tape
Direction first
Bars show relative move magnitude, not index contribution. Reuters market quotes are delayed at least 15 minutes.
Cross-asset signals
08:13–08:35 SGT
- USD/JPY
- 158.85vs 158.50 Friday Tokyo close
- Brent
- $93.17−1.29% at 08:35 SGT
- WTI
- $85.86−1.38% at 08:35 SGT
- USD/KRW
- 1,385.78Reuters conversion at 08:13 SGT
What changed in the latest hour
Opening impulse
- Seoul diverged: Samsung fell 5.2% even after saying 2026 shareholder returns could reach ₩110tn; SK hynix gained 2.4% after its separate ₩40tn repurchase-and-cancellation plan.
- Tokyo held green: the Nikkei added 0.3%, led by JX Advanced Metals (+3.3%), Screen Holdings (+3.1%) and BayCurrent (+3.0%).
- Oil retraced: Brent and WTI fell more than $1 as traders reduced positions before a U.S. announcement on new Iran sanctions.
Investor read-through
Decision frame
Japan’s modest advance and SK hynix’s resilience suggest investors still reward AI-memory exposure when capital returns look credible. Softer oil offers near-term relief to import-heavy Asian economies.
Samsung’s selloff shows that headline return capacity is not enough after a powerful chip rally. Trade friction and a renewed Hormuz shock could quickly reverse the oil relief and pressure regional margins.
Next watchpoints
Scheduled / verified
Shanghai/Shenzhen opening auctions begin; Hong Kong transitions from auction to continuous trading at 09:30 HKT.
National People’s Congress meetings are scheduled across Tuesday–Friday.
Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino is scheduled to speak; yen and JGB sensitivity is elevated after stronger inflation and export data.
July unemployment rate, followed by August consumer confidence at 13:00 SGT.
Chip Buybacks Brace Seoul as Oil Tests Asia’s Open
ASIA OPEN · CASH EQUITIES
Chip buybacks meet an oil-and-yield test
Tokyo and Seoul are trading. Korea’s two largest chipmakers have filed to buy about ₩1.6 trillion of shares today, while Brent near $94 and a 4.73% US 10-year yield keep the regional discount-rate backdrop tight.
24 Aug 2026 · 08:08 SGT
09:08 JST / KST
Opening regime
FIRST 10 MINUTES
Direct demand in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is a powerful index support. It does not yet prove broad risk appetite.
Opening-print note: cash trading is verified as active, but an independently verified live index print was not available at publication. The board below therefore uses the latest verified closes, not inferred live moves.
Today’s direct demand
FILED PURCHASES
Combined Samsung Electronics + SK hynix buyback orders for the 24 Aug regular session
Regional board
LATEST VERIFIED CASH CLOSE · FRI 21 AUG
| Market | Close | Day | Read-through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225Japan | 66,016.36 | −0.3% | Price-heavy tech lagged |
| TOPIXJapan | 4,067.29 | +0.2% | Broader market held up |
| KOSPISouth Korea | 6,912.95 | +0.9% | Chip buybacks led |
| Hang SengHong Kong | 26,009.46 | +1.2% | Tencent, AIA and HSBC firm |
| CSI 300Mainland China | 4,618.89 | +0.6% | Large caps advanced |
| STISingapore | 5,689.91 | +0.3% | Modest positive close |
| Nifty 50India | 24,252.00 | +0.08% | Flat day; −0.5% week |
| SensexIndia | 77,540.83 | Flat | −0.6% on the week |
Support
SEOUL
- ₩40tnSK hynix repurchase-and-cancel program
- ₩15tnSamsung employee-compensation buyback
- 6,912.95KOSPI Friday close; 7,000 is the near-term test
Stress
GLOBAL INPUTS
- $94.39Brent Friday close; $95 is the next risk marker
- 4.73%US 10-year yield at Friday’s US close
- 66,010Nikkei futures pre-open, −0.12%; delayed
Decision frame
WHAT CONFIRMS
- BullKOSPI holds above Friday’s close with wider participation
- BearBuybacks lift two names while broader Korea and Japan fade
- WatchSemiconductor breadth after Taipei opens at 09:00 SGT
Opening sequence
SGT
- Tokyo + Seoul cash openActive at publication
- Taipei + SingaporeFirst wider chip and ASEAN read
- Shanghai, Shenzhen + Hong KongChina demand and internet beta
- India cash openOil-importer sensitivity in focus
Next catalysts
SCHEDULED
NVIDIA resultsCritical read-through for Asian AI-memory demand; company webcast follows at 05:00 SGT.
Bank of Korea decisionPolicy rate is 2.75%; inflation and financial-stability language matter for domestic duration.
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