SK Hynix shares jumped 25% on Friday, with Samsung Electronics rising more than 20% in the same session. South Korea's two chip heavyweights tracked a sharp rally in U.S. technology stocks as AI sentiment pushed back to the fore.
Friday's numbers
| Company | Session gain | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SK Hynix | +25% | Reported |
| Samsung Electronics | +20%-plus | Reported |
SK Hynix outperformed Samsung on the day. Both are single-session, reported figures.
What drove the gains
Neither company announced a specific catalyst. The South Korean chipmakers tracked U.S. technology stocks higher, with the broader AI trade described as roaring back.
When U.S. technology sentiment shifts sharply, South Korean chipmakers tend to follow. Friday was a clean case: the catalyst was external, and both stocks reflected it. Samsung's 20%-plus print alongside SK Hynix's 25% advance confirmed the move was sector-wide rather than tied to either company alone.