Key Highlights
- Samsung Electronics stock climbed 8.22% on Friday, bouncing back from Thursday’s 9.1% decline
- KOSPI index rallied 5.76% to finish at 8,088.34 in a V-shaped reversal after touching 7,300 earlier in the session
- News emerged that Anthropic is discussing custom AI chip development with Samsung, boosting investor sentiment
- SK Hynix jumped 10.88% the same trading day following a devastating 14.6% loss in the prior session
- Despite recent volatility, KOSPI holds position as 2026’s top-performing major global index with approximately 92% gains year-to-date
Samsung Electronics shares staged an impressive recovery Friday, gaining 8.22% following Thursday’s brutal 9.1% decline. The rebound coincided with a broader market rally across South Korea’s KOSPI index, which had experienced circuit breaker halts during Thursday’s intense selling pressure.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SMSD.L
The KOSPI touched intraday lows near 7,300 Friday morning before executing a stunning V-shaped turnaround, ultimately finishing the session up 5.76% at 8,088.34. The previous day had witnessed a devastating 7.89% decline — marking one of 2026’s most severe single-session losses for the benchmark.
Emerging reports indicating artificial intelligence company Anthropic has entered discussions with Samsung regarding custom AI chip development provided investors with renewed bullish momentum. This development significantly contributed to the recovery rally in both Samsung and fellow chipmaker SK Hynix.
SK Hynix shares surged 10.88% Friday, recovering from Thursday’s punishing 14.6% plunge. As the two dominant components of the KOSPI, these semiconductor giants heavily influence the index’s overall direction.
Thursday’s market rout received additional amplification from liquidation in heavily leveraged single-stock exchange-traded funds. South Korea’s financial oversight authority publicly acknowledged concerns regarding this leverage-driven volatility.
AI Chip Partnership Speculation Accelerates Recovery
Friday’s rally transcended mere technical bouncing. Reports surrounding potential Anthropic-Samsung custom hardware collaboration provided genuine fundamental momentum alongside value-hunting and short position covering following Thursday’s extreme capitulation selling.
Samsung’s stock continues trading significantly below its 52-week peak of 374,500 won, suggesting potential for additional upside if the AI memory narrative maintains strength.
The KOSPI’s extraordinary 2026 performance has been almost exclusively powered by the AI memory sector boom. The index has delivered approximately 92% returns year-to-date — a figure that absolutely dominates every other major global equity benchmark. For context, the S&P 500 has gained merely 9.3% over the same period.
AI Memory Rally Extends Beyond South Korea
The AI memory sector surge isn’t limited to Korean markets. American competitor Micron concluded Thursday’s abbreviated trading week down 5.5% at $975.56, swept up in the broader semiconductor selloff that pressured the Nasdaq, which declined 0.8% heading into the Independence Day holiday.
Micron maintains year-to-date gains of 166.4%, a staggering return that underscores just how powerful the memory chip trade has been throughout 2026.
South Korea’s robust Friday recovery is being interpreted as an encouraging indicator for Micron when American exchanges resume trading Monday following the July 4th holiday weekend.
Friday’s impressive gains in Samsung and SK Hynix resulted from a confluence of factors: technical short-covering, value-oriented buyers stepping in at depressed levels, and short-term capital aggressively pursuing the momentum reversal.
Samsung Electronics finished Friday’s session with an 8.22% advance, while SK Hynix posted a 10.88% gain on the same trading day.
