Analysis

TradingKey - On September 30, Japanese and South Korean stock markets diverged, with Japanese stocks strengthening significantly while South Korean equities pulled back slightly. Over the three months ending September 30, the KOSPI fell a cumulative 18.8%, making it one of the worst-performing stock markets globally in the third quarter.

TradingKey - On September 30, Japanese and South Korean stock markets rose in tandem during early trading, with tech stocks showing active performance. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index opened 0.99% higher at 66,128.59 points, with gains later expanding to 1.33% at 66,350.59 points. South Korea's KOSPI Index opened 1.06% higher at 6,943.47 points, and subsequently stood 1.03% higher at 6,941.91 points.

TradingKey - On September 29, Japanese and South Korean stock markets remained weak in afternoon trading as market wait-and-see sentiment mounted. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index (JPN225) closed down 0.60% at 65,481.22 points, while South Korea's KOSPI Index (KOSPI) dropped 0.27% to end at 6,870.82 points.

TradingKey - On September 29, Japanese and South Korean stock markets showed weak performance in early trading. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index (JPN225) opened down 0.49% at 65,557.99 points, later narrowing its decline to 0.37% at 65,636.03 points; South Korea's KOSPI Index opened 0.7% lower at 6,844.41 points, subsequently trimming its drop to 0.25% at 6,872.71 points.

TradingKey - On September 28, Japanese and South Korean stock markets trended lower together, with losses in the South Korean market widening markedly. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 2.70% at 6,889.75 points, while Japan's Nikkei 225 Index (JPN225) fell 0.73% to close at 65,877.62 points.

TradingKey - Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS), in which TSMC (TSM) holds a stake, has launched its first 12-inch wafer fab in Singapore. Driven by sustained growth in demand for AI infrastructure, the new fab's capacity has been largely booked by customers around the start of production, leading the company to begin considering the construction of a second wafer fab locally.

TradingKey - On September 28, Japanese and South Korean stock markets diverged at the open. In individual stock movements, Japan's SoftBank Group rose 2.70% in early trading to 6,316 yen (approx. $40), while Kioxia gained 0.16% to 55,870 yen. South Korean chip stocks showed weak performance, with SK Hynix falling 2.09% in early trading to 1.823 million won (approx. $1,341) and Samsung Electronics dropping 0.35% to 284,500 won.

TradingKey - On September 24, Japanese stocks resumed trading after a multi-day holiday, with the Nikkei 225 Index extending the momentum of earlier gains in global tech stocks to close up 0.76% at 65,513.94 points. South Korean stock markets were closed today for a holiday, with no trading conducted.

TradingKey - On September 24, Japanese stock markets resumed trading after a three-day holiday, with the Nikkei 225 Index (JPN225) opening 0.6% higher and later extending gains to 1.25% to reach 65,828.43 points. Meanwhile, South Korean stock markets were closed for a holiday.

TradingKey - South Korean stocks extended their upward trend today, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closing up 0.90% at 7,080.92 points. The index rose over 1% in early trade before narrowing its gains in the afternoon. Japanese markets were closed today for a holiday.

TradingKey - On September 23, South Korean stocks moved higher in early trading, with semiconductor shares performing actively. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened 1.94% higher at 7,153.99 points, before narrowing its gain to 1.37% to trade at 7,113.74 points. Japanese stock markets are closed today for the Autumnal Equinox Day holiday.

South Korean stocks opened higher before giving up most gains to edge up 0.15%, with Samsung rising less than 1% and SK Hynix falling 1.5%.

The KOSPI surged 2.22% at the open, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both gaining over 3%.

Japanese markets were closed, while South Korea's KOSPI Index reclaimed the 7,000 mark, with Samsung Electronics surging nearly 5%.

South Korean stocks opened with a fierce surge toward the 7,000 mark, as Samsung Electronics jumped 3.26% in a dramatic comeback, while Japanese markets were closed for a three-day holiday.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed sharply higher, with the KOSPI surging 2.66%, SK Hynix soaring 6.4%, and Kioxia jumping 9.4%.

The KOSPI surged 2.3% to cross 6,800 points, driven by a broad rally in semiconductor stocks, SoftBank, and Kioxia.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed mixed as the KOSPI reversed course to finish lower, dragged down by losses in the semiconductor duo, while the Nikkei rallied late in the session to close higher.

Following the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, Japanese and South Korean stock markets opened higher, with the KOSPI approaching the 6,800 mark as Samsung, SoftBank, and Kioxia staged a joint rebound.

The Nikkei and KOSPI both closed higher, with SK Hynix surging over 4%, while SoftBank and Kioxia both fell.