Market rebound lifts chip majors
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix posted strong gains on Wednesday, as bargain hunters moved into technology names after the sector suffered heavy declines in March. Samsung (KS:005930) surged over 10% to 184,300 won, while SK Hynix (KS:000660) advanced as much as 9.5% to 884,000 won.
The two companies were among the largest contributors to a broader recovery in South Korea's main bourse. The KOSPI index climbed 6.5% on the session after tumbling more than 19% in the previous month.
Why shares fell and why some investors returned
Both firms had entered March nursing declines in excess of 20%. Investors grew concerned about the sustainability of long-term memory chip demand from artificial intelligence applications, particularly after Google unveiled a new algorithm it said could substantially reduce AI systems' memory requirements.
More recently, traders have also speculated that memory chip prices could ease if major AI players cut spending. Market attention turned to OpenAI after the company shut down its video generation model Sora, fueling talk of reduced procurement.
OpenAI had, in late-2025, signed a supply agreement with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to purchase 900,000 DRAM wafers from the two manufacturers - a volume described in the market as a significant portion of potential supply. The two South Korean chipmakers had benefited through late-2025 from a spike in memory prices as investors positioned for a possible supply shortfall driven by outsized AI demand.
Investor tools and stock evaluation note
For those weighing a position in SK Hynix, proprietary tools have been applied to the stock. A model referred to as ProPicks AI evaluates 000660 along with thousands of other companies each month using more than 100 financial metrics. The tool claims to generate stock ideas by assessing fundamentals, momentum, and valuation, and cites past winners including Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%).
The service also notes it has no bias and seeks to identify risk-reward opportunities in current market data, and invites investors to check whether 000660 is included in any active strategies or if alternative opportunities exist within the same sector.
What to watch next
Wednesday's price action reflected both a technical bounce from deeply oversold levels and renewed buying interest in large-cap memory names. Continued volatility in memory demand expectations, AI-related procurement decisions by major buyers, and pricing dynamics for DRAM wafers will likely remain focal points for investors monitoring these stocks and the broader semiconductor sector.