Nvidia Earnings to Set Tone for Korean Chip Stocks
Korean stocks rose on Thursday as chipmakers led the market higher, but traders were waiting anxiously for Nvidia's earnings to set the tone for the AI trade.
The KOSPI, South Korea's main stock index, gained 0.44% to close at 6,772.71, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix doing much of the heavy lifting.
However, under the surface, traders seemed cautious, with overseas investors selling a net amount of shares despite the strengthening won and falling government bond yields.
The real focal point is Nvidia's earnings release later today, which can influence how investors judge near-term orders for AI chips and whether the current boom translates into sustainable profits.
If Nvidia's results suggest cooling demand or squeezed margins, it could weigh on chip-heavy indexes like Korea's, while a strong report could support higher valuations.