Samsung, SK Hynix Shares Surge After Trump’s Iran Comments Ignite Market Rally

TLDR

• Samsung and SK Hynix shares surged 10–13% on Wednesday following significant losses in March.
• The KOSPI index gained more than 8%, rebounding from a drop exceeding 19% the previous month.
• Investor sentiment was buoyed by optimism for a swift resolution to the Middle East conflict.
• The two semiconductor firms had declined 23–24% in March due to war anxieties and worries about AI memory demand.
• An overnight rally on Wall Street, fueled by Trump’s remarks on Iran, contributed to the market upswing.

(SeaPRwire) –   Samsung Electronics shares advanced 13% to 189,600 won on Wednesday, and SK Hynix increased approximately 11% to 893,000 won. This recovery occurred after both stocks endured substantial declines during March.

The South Korean KOSPI index increased 8.4% to 5,478.70, a move largely supported by the recovery in the two chip giants. The index had plunged more than 19% in March.

Both firms shed roughly 23–24% of their value last month. A primary cause was investor concern over the Middle East conflict, which stoked fears of increased production costs and supply chain interruptions.

Anxiety also mounted regarding long-term demand for memory chips utilized in artificial intelligence. Google introduced an algorithm it said could reduce AI’s memory needs, putting pressure on the industry.

Markets also started to conjecture that memory chip prices might decline after OpenAI implemented cost-cutting measures. The company discontinued its video generation model, Sora, as part of these actions.

AI Deal with OpenAI in Focus

In late 2025, OpenAI inked an agreement with Samsung and SK Hynix to purchase 900,000 DRAM wafers from the pair. That agreement had been a major source of positive sentiment for both companies’ shares.

Both chipmakers had profited from climbing memory chip prices through late 2025, as markets anticipated robust AI demand would exceed supply. The recent downturn erased a portion of those advances.

Kiwoom Securities analyst Han Ji-young stated that bargain-hunting propelled Wednesday’s rebound, as major stocks had dropped sufficiently to lure buyers back into the market.

“The stock market is highly likely to enter a recovery phase rather than experience further decline,” Han wrote in a note to clients.

Middle East Ceasefire Hopes Lift Sentiment

Market mood brightened after President Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S. would withdraw from Iran within two to three weeks. He delivered these remarks to reporters at the White House.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also expressed Tehran’s readiness to conclude the conflict, although he requested unspecified guarantees in exchange.

These comments ignited a rally on Wall Street overnight, which extended into Asian markets on Wednesday morning.

Samsung shares finished the trading day at 189,600 won, which is about $125.83. SK Hynix concluded at 893,000 won.

The KOSPI ended the session at 5,478.70, marking an 8.4% daily gain.

Both Samsung and SK Hynix are still trading well below their pre-March selloff levels.