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Kospi opens higher on Samsung Electronics' record Q1 earnings, other tech gains

Published: 07 Apr. 2026, 14:11

Kospi figures are shown on a digital board at Hana Bank in central Seoul on April 7. [YONHAP]

Seoul shares opened higher on Tuesday, led by gains in technology shares after Samsung Electronics reported record earnings in the first quarter of this year.

The benchmark Kospi rose 134.43 points, or 2.47 percent, to 5,584.76 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The index was largely supported by expectations of strong corporate earnings.

Samsung Electronics estimated that its first-quarter operating profit surged nearly ninefold to a record 57.2 trillion won ($38 billion) from 6.61 trillion won a year earlier, driven by robust demand for AI-related chips.

Investor sentiment was further buoyed by overnight gains on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.36 percent, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.54 percent.

Samsung Electronics jumped 3.7 percent, and its chip rival SK hynix gained 3.56 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 2.56 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia climbed 1.12 percent.

Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 2.4 percent, and top refiner SK Innovation surged 3.08 percent.

Among decliners, the dominant tobacco company KT&G fell 0.45 percent, and Samyang Foods declined 0.66 percent.

The local currency weakened by 0.80 won to trade at 1,505.50 won against the greenback at 9:15 a.m.

Yonhap