SK Hynix is in the news as US tariffs and global chip tensions hit their profits; they're one of Korea’s top memory chip makers.
Asian stock markets fell sharply on March 9, driven by fears of energy supply disruptions due to escalating conflict in the Middle East. Major indices in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan experienced significant declines, with energy prices surging and investor sentiment weakening amid geopolitical tensions.
South Korea's stock market, the Kospi, plunged over 12% on March 5, its largest single-day drop, driven by fears over Middle East conflict and energy prices. Tech giants Samsung and SK Hynix led the decline, wiping out billions in market value amid global uncertainty.
South Korea’s Kospi has surged past 7,000 as AI-driven demand for memory semiconductors lifts the market. Goldman Sachs has raised its 12‑month target to 9,000, citing durable earnings in memory chips and rising valuations.
Samsung Electronics has reached a critical juncture as a union move to scrap a 50% bonus cap and push for 15% of operating profit to bonuses faces a government-backed mediation deadlock. About 45,000-74,000 workers are set to walk out for 18 days, pressuring export-reliant economy and AI chip supply chains amid ongoing talks.