Shanghai Composite breaks 4,200 as South Korean equities hit record highs
Updated
Updated · Global Times · May 11
Shanghai Composite breaks 4,200 as South Korean equities hit record highs
13 articles · Updated · Global Times · May 11
By mid-morning, nearly 2,900 shares rose across Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, while the KOSPI 200 gained over 4.5% and briefly topped 6%, triggering a circuit breaker.
AI-linked technology and semiconductor stocks led gains, with Chinese memory-chip and computing shares jumping and South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics reaching fresh highs.
The rally extends an earlier regional surge driven by AI trade bets, with investors largely looking past rising oil prices and renewed US-Iran tensions.
In the U.S.-Iran standoff, whose economic 'pain clock' will run out first as the global crisis deepens?
As the U.S. confronts Iran, is China quietly winning the global race for energy and technological supremacy?
With global markets rattled by war, is South Korea's AI-driven stock surge a sign of strength or a dangerous bubble?
KOSPI Surges Past 7,000: AI Semiconductor Boom, Geopolitical Risks, and the Fragile Foundations of Korea’s Market Rally in 2026
Overview
In May 2026, the KOSPI soared past 7,000 points, driven by explosive global demand for AI hardware and memory chips, which put South Korea at the center of the tech world. This rapid rise was fueled by institutional and high-net-worth investors favoring aggressive leveraged positions over traditional spot buying, pushing the index to new highs. However, this reliance on leverage introduces risks, as a shift in market sentiment could quickly destabilize the rally. The KOSPI’s exceptional performance is thus a paradox—remarkable growth intertwined with potential instability, highlighting both the opportunities and vulnerabilities in Korea’s market.