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KOSPI Surges 5%, Recovers 5,900 Mark Amid Semiconductor Boom and Oil Price Drop
KOSPI Soars and Semiconductor Market Booms
Despite the instability in the Middle East, the KOSPI index surged over 5% yesterday, reaching 5,925.03 and surpassing the 5,900 mark. This is the first time since March 3rd, immediately after the US-Iran conflict, marking a recovery in just fifteen days. Notably, Samsung Electronics saw a 7.53% increase, breaking the 208,500 won mark, and SK Hynix also rose by 8.87%, recovering to 1,056,000 won. Towards the end of the trading session, a sidecar was triggered, temporarily halting program buy orders, indicating strong buying momentum.
Positive Market Factors and Lingering Uncertainty
The market rebound was largely fueled by institutions net buying over 3.1 trillion won, a historical high, and foreign investors purchasing nearly 900 billion won. Furthermore, Samsung Electronics signing an HBM4 supply contract with AMD CEO Lisa Su during her visit to Korea boosted expectations for semiconductor performance. The drop in international oil prices and President Lee Jae-myung's commitment to uninterrupted capital market reforms during a meeting also stimulated investor sentiment. Morgan Stanley noted that the Korean government's reforms are on track, predicting the KOSPI could reach 8,500 within two years if subsequent measures are implemented.
However, Middle East uncertainty remains a variable. Jung Yong-taek, Head of Research at IBK Investment & Securities, noted that a prolonged situation in the Middle East could impact the semiconductor industry. The market is now keenly observing how the US Federal Reserve, ahead of its benchmark interest rate meeting, will assess the recent impact of oil price increases on inflation.
*Source: YouTube: MBC News (2026-03-18)*
