Seoul stocks rebound over 3% on eased AI spending woes

Korean stocks rebounded Wednesday in Seoul, with the KOSPI rising 3.29 percent to close at 5,735.66 as semiconductor shares rallied on easing concerns over AI spending. The recovery followed a nearly 4 percent drop in the previous session and was supported by better-than-expected earnings from Super Micro Computer. The Korea Exchange activated a buy-side sidecar during the rally, while the won strengthened against the U.S. dollar.

The KOSPI gained 182.92 points and reached an intraday high of 5,816.43.

The Korea Exchange suspended program buying for five minutes after KOSPI 200 futures rose more than 5 percent; it was the first buy-side sidecar activation in two months.

Foreign investors bought a net 659.96 billion won, while individuals sold a net 1.13 trillion won and institutions sold a net 72.22 billion won.

Samsung Electronics rose 5.67 percent to 223,500 won, and SK hynix advanced 5.81 percent to 1.29 million won.

LIG D&A fell 9.03 percent after Korea’s arms procurement agency barred it from bidding on defense contracts for two years over bribery allegations.

Published Oct 21, 2026 3:48 pm KST

Updated Oct 21, 2026 4:47 pm KST

A stock ticker at Hana Bank headquarters in central Seoul shows the benchmark KOSPI, Wednesday. Yonhap

Korean stocks rebounded Wednesday, recovering from the previous session's steep losses as semiconductor shares rallied on easing concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) spending. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 182.92 points, or 3.29 percent, to close at 5,735.66 after rising as high as 5,816.43.

The sharp rally prompted the Korea Exchange (KRX) to activate a buy-side sidecar shortly before 11 a.m., temporarily suspending program buying for five minutes after KOSPI 200 futures rose more than 5 percent. It marked the first such activation in two months.

The rebound came after the main index plunged nearly 4 percent the previous session amid renewed concerns over massive AI infrastructure spending.

Investor sentiment improved after better-than-expected earnings from U.S. AI server maker Super Micro Computer helped ease worries over AI-related investments, lifting shares of chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.02 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite slipped 0.02 percent.

Trade volume was light at 214.35 million shares worth 17.16 trillion won ($12.96 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 487 to 372.

Foreigners bought a net 659.96 billion won, while individuals and institutions sold a net 1.13 trillion won and 72.22 billion won, respectively.

"The local market rebounded on bargain hunting after the previous session's sharp sell-off, buoyed by easing concerns over oil prices and interest rates and upbeat earnings from Super Micro," Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said.

Market heavyweights rose across the board, led by semiconductor shares.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 5.67 percent to 223,500 won, while chip giant SK hynix advanced 5.81 percent to 1.29 million won.

SK Corp., the holding company of SK Group, jumped 12.62 percent to 482,000 won, recovering from a nearly 8 percent plunge in the previous session.

LS Electric, a power equipment maker, surged 7.02 percent to 166,100 won after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, driven by robust demand from AI data centers.

LIG D&A plunged 9.03 percent to 498,500 won after Korea's arms procurement agency barred the defense company from bidding on defense contracts for two years over bribery allegations.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,325.2 won against the U.S. dollar as of 3:30 p.m., up 0.8 won from the previous session's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 1.8 basis points to 3.822, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds went down 2.5 points to 3,965.

周三，韩国股市在首尔反弹，KOSPI指数上涨3.29%，收于5735.66点，半导体股因人工智能支出担忧缓解而走强。此前，韩国股市在前一交易日下跌近4%，此次反弹受到超微电脑公司（Super Micro Computer）好于预期的盈利的支撑。韩国交易所（Keeper Exchange）在上涨过程中启动了买入侧挂单，韩元兑美元汇率走强。

韩国综合股价指数 (KOSPI) 上涨 182.92 点，盘中最高触及 5,816.43 点。

韩国综合股价指数200期货上涨超过5%后，韩国交易所暂停程序化购买5分钟；这是两个月来首次启动买方侧挂交易。

外国投资者净买入 6599.6 亿韩元，而个人净卖出 1.13 万亿韩元，机构净卖出 722.2 亿韩元。

三星电子股价上涨 5.67%，至 223,500 韩元；SK 海力士股价上涨 5.81%，至 129 万韩元。

韩国军备采购机构因行贿指控禁止 LIG D&A 在两年内参与国防合同竞标后，该公司股价下跌 9.03%。

发布于2026年10月21日下午3:48（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月21日下午4:47（韩国标准时间）

周三，首尔市中心韩亚银行总部的股票行情显示屏显示了韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）的基准指数。（韩联社）

韩国股市周三反弹，从前一交易日的暴跌中收复失地，半导体股因人工智能（AI）支出担忧缓解而走强。韩元兑美元汇率走强。

韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）上涨182.92点，涨幅3.29%，收于5735.66点，盘中最高触及5816.43点。

这波强劲上涨促使韩国交易所（KRX）在上午11点前不久启动买入侧挂交易，在KOSPI 200指数期货上涨超过5%后，暂停程序化买入五分钟。这是两个月来首次启动此类操作。

在主要股指前一交易日因市场对大规模人工智能基础设施支出的担忧再次加剧而暴跌近4%之后，该股出现反弹。

美国人工智能服务器制造商超微电脑公司公布的盈利好于预期，这缓解了投资者对人工智能相关投资的担忧，提振了芯片巨头三星电子和SK海力士的股价，从而改善了投资者情绪。

隔夜，美国股市收盘涨跌互现，道琼斯工业平均指数上涨1.02%，而以科技股为主的纳斯达克综合指数下跌0.02%。

交易量清淡，为 2.1435 亿股，成交额为 17.16 万亿韩元（129.6 亿美元），下跌股票数量超过上涨股票数量，分别为 487 只和 372 只。

外国人净买入6599.6亿韩元，而个人和机构分别净卖出1.13万亿韩元和722.2亿韩元。

Kiwoom Securities 分析师韩智英表示：“受油价和利率担忧缓解以及超微公司乐观盈利的提振，本地市场在前一交易日大幅抛售后出现逢低买盘反弹。”

市场巨头股票全线上涨，其中半导体股领涨。

市场风向标三星电子股价上涨5.67%，至223,500韩元；芯片巨头SK海力士股价上涨5.81%，至129万韩元。

SK集团的控股公司SK Corp.股价上涨12.62%，至482,000韩元，从前一交易日近8%的跌幅中反弹。

电力设备制造商 LS Electric 的股价上涨 7.02%，至 166,100 韩元，此前该公司公布的第三季度收益好于预期，这主要得益于人工智能数据中心强劲的需求。

韩国武器采购机构因行贿指控禁止 LIG D&A 公司在两年内参与国防合同竞标后，该公司股价暴跌 9.03%，至 498,500 韩元。

截至下午 3:30，韩元兑美元汇率为 1,325.2 韩元，较前一交易日收盘价上涨 0.8 韩元。

债券价格与收益率呈反向走势，最终收高。三年期美国国债收益率下跌1.8个基点至3.822%，五年期基准政府债券收益率下跌2.5个基点至3965。