FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Rise on AI Investment Push

The benchmark KOSPI inched up toward 6,320 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session, driven by plans to fast-track AI-related investment. The government intends to introduce a special law this year to streamline the rollout of AI investment projects, notably a semiconductor cluster backed by a combined 800 trillion won in commitments from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Market sentiment was further buoyed by robust semiconductor exports, which jumped 155.4% year-on-year in the first 10 days of August to $9.95 billion, underpinned by strong global AI demand. However, upside momentum was capped by overnight weakness in US technology stocks and rising oil prices, amid uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Performance among large caps was mixed. Samsung Electronics climbed 2.6%, while SK hynix (-0.9%), SK Square (-1.4%), Hyundai Motor (-0.7%), LG Energy Solution (-0.7%), KB Financial Group (-1.5%), and Hanwha Aerospace (-2.8%) all ended lower.