SK hynix closes in on 95% of Samsung Electronics' market cap... The two semiconductor giants now account for more than 56% of the market

[Financial News] SK hynix has narrowed the gap with Samsung Electronics to about 95% of its market capitalization, buoyed by the supercycle in AI semiconductors. As the domestic stock market's total market capitalization surpassed 8,000 trillion won intraday for the first time, capital inflows into the semiconductor and IT sectors have intensified further.
According to the financial investment industry on the 20th, the total market capitalization of the Korean stock market exceeded 8,000 trillion won intraday on the 19th, just 26 trading days after it recently broke through 7,000 trillion won. On a closing basis, market capitalization stood at 7,945 trillion won.
During this period, the influence of large-cap semiconductor stocks has expanded rapidly. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix accounted for 48.4% of KOSPI market capitalization, but that share rose to 56.2%. Including SK Square and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the top four stocks' combined share increased from 52.0% to 61.8%. Samsung Life Insurance, whose valuation has been lifted by its stake in Samsung Electronics, recently overtook LG Energy Solution to rank sixth in market capitalization.
Investor attention is focused on the narrowing gap between Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. SK hynix has been rapidly closing in on Samsung Electronics, which has held the No. 1 spot in market capitalization since 2000, and its market value has risen to 95.2% of Samsung Electronics' level.
The KOSPI closed the previous day at 9,052.42, down 11.42 points, or 0.13%, from the previous session. A day earlier, on the 18th, it finished at 9,063.84, up 199.60 points, or 2.25%, marking the first time it had ever closed above 9,000.
Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., explained, "With major macro events such as Middle East negotiations and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) now behind the market, Korean stocks opened higher in early trading on the back of strength in U.S. semiconductor shares, but gains were pared as appetite for profit-taking grew after the recent sharp rally." He added, "Retail investors stepped in to buy Samsung Electronics and SK hynix at lower prices, helping the market hold above 9,000."


dschoi@fnnews.com Choi Du-seon Reporter