South Korean shares were on track to snap a seven-week losing streak on Friday, with the benchmark Kospi climbing to a three-week high as chipmakers rallied on optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, according to a Reuters report.The Kospi was up 55.55 points, or 0.82%, at 6,868.89 as of 0132 GMT, after gaining as much as 2.9% earlier in the session. The index pared some gains as investors turned cautious ahead of a public holiday on Monday.The tech-heavy index marked its fifth consecutive session of gains, rising 9.4% during the period after losing nearly 31% over the previous seven weeks. Market volatility has also eased, with the volatility index at 56 on Friday, down sharply from a record high of 98 in late June.According to Reuters, South Korean stocks were also supported by gains in U.S. technology shares after the S&P 500 closed at a record high on Thursday. A softer-than-expected U.S. producer inflation reading strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged at its September meeting.Among major KOSPI stocks, SK Hynix gained 3.01%, while Samsung Electronics slipped 0.37% after rising more than 2% earlier in the session. LG Energy Solution declined 1.37%.Auto stocks were among the stronger performers, with Hyundai Motor rising 5.73% and Kia Corp gaining 1.97%. POSCO Holdings advanced 1.08%, while Samsung BioLogics fell 1.09%.Of the 903 stocks traded, 453 advanced and 420 declined. Foreign investors were net buyers of South Korean shares worth 780.2 billion won ($550.81 million).The South Korean won strengthened 0.16% to 1,416.3 per dollar from its previous close of 1,418.6.In the bond market, September futures on three-year Treasury bonds gained 0.04 point to 103.33. The yield on the most liquid three-year Korean Treasury bond fell 0.6 basis points to 3.774%, while the benchmark 10-year yield declined 1.1 basis points to 4.282%.The report stated that the broader improvement in sentiment comes as investors weigh easing inflation pressures in the United States against the prospect of continued gains in technology and AI-related stocks.
Global Market: South Korean shares set to end seven-week losing streak
South Korean shares were poised to end a seven-week losing streak, with the Kospi rising 0.82% to a three-week high, supported by AI-driven chip gains and stronger U.S. technology stocks. SK Hynix and automakers advanced, while Samsung Electronics slipped. Foreign investors bought stocks, while easing U.S. inflation boosted market sentiment.
Kospi snapped seven-week losing streak with 9.4% rally on AI-driven chipmaker gains (SK Hynix +3.01%); foreign investors bought $550M shares. Softer US inflation and Fed rate-hold expectations cooled volatility (98→56), reviving tech appetite after 31% losses.






