Samsung Electronics and SK hynix surge: What supports further gains? Securities analysts cite a broader AI demand base

[Financial News] The KOSPI broke above its 20-day moving average as semiconductor stocks advanced despite concerns over additional tightening in the United States and geopolitical instability in the Middle East. Analysts said expectations for infrastructure investment driven by wider artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and increased memory demand offset external uncertainties.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 8th, the KOSPI closed the previous day at 6,995.39, up 4.61% from the prior session. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix rose 5.7% and 8.3%, respectively, while HANMI Semiconductor and DB HiTek gained 4.6% and 12.1%. The sharp increases in U.S. memory stocks Micron Technology and SanDisk, which climbed 6.1% and 11.9%, respectively, also boosted investor sentiment toward Korean semiconductor stocks.
Daishin Securities focused on the possibility that token usage will increase as AI models become more capable and useful, prompting greater investment in the infrastructure needed to process them. The firm judged that the expanding scope of AI applications is supporting expectations for semiconductor demand.
Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, analyzed, "Expectations have emerged that the overall foundation of AI demand will broaden as AI users expand from a small number of model providers to a wide range of companies and developers."
External pressures, however, persisted. U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August from the previous month, far exceeding the forecast of 55,000. Although the unemployment rate came in at 4.1%, in line with expectations, strong employment increased the possibility of additional tightening by the Federal Reserve System (Fed).
Rising international oil prices following the military conflict between the United States and Iran was also cited as a factor limiting appetite for risk assets. West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) and Brent crude futures rose to around $92 and $97 a barrel, respectively.
In addition to semiconductors, nuclear power and electrical equipment stocks also stood out among sectors. Nuclear-related stocks Doosan Enerbility and KEPCO Engineering & Construction Company (KEPCO E&C) rose 11.0% and 13.7%, respectively, while Hyundai Engineering and Construction gained 6.0%. In electrical equipment, Hyosung Heavy Industries rose 8.5%, HD Hyundai Electric gained 6.9%, and LS ELECTRIC advanced 6.0%.
Lee assessed, "Despite continued external uncertainties, positive developments in individual sectors came to the fore, producing a clear market of differentiated performance."
[email protected] Choi Doo-sun Reporter