Kospi Index Soars Over 16% Amid Chip Stock Surge

WHO:

Techmeme - South Korea plans to inject 20 trillion won ($13.9 billion) into its sovereign wealth fund for strategic investments in AI, data centers, and infrastructure.

AP News - South Korea’s Kospi index, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Microsoft, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management, Jonas Golterman of Capital Economics, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama.

CNBC - Amazon, Apple, Richard Bernstein of Janus Henderson Investors.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Samsung and SK Hynix shares rose 26.81% and 29.95%, respectively, on a Friday.

Bloomberg Markets - The Kospi index has shown volatility topping 60%, almost double that of Japan’s Nikkei 225.

Fast Company - South Korea’s Kospi index jumped almost 18% on a Friday, with Samsung and SK Hynix shares rising 26.81% and 29.95%, respectively.

Yahoo Finance - Amazon Web Services (AWS) grew its net sales by 37%, its quickest growth since 2021.

Yahoo Finance - Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing services surpassed $100 billion in revenue for the first time.

Yahoo Finance - Microsoft 365 Copilot exceeded 30 million paid seats.

Yahoo Finance - Lam Research’s revenue rose more than 15% from the previous quarter, driven by AI demand.

AP News - The Kospi index surged at the open, trading 16.5% higher before settling at 14% at 6,376.68.

CNBC - Amazon surged more than 9% after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter revenue.

CNBC - Microsoft jumped 16% after posting stronger-than-expected Azure cloud growth.

Yahoo Finance - Amazon stock jumped 10% in premarket trade after its earnings beat expectations and its chip business expanded, while Apple stock fell 7%.

Bloomberg Markets - The Kospi index has shown volatility topping 60%, almost double that of Japan’s Nikkei 225.

AP News - The Kospi index surged at the open, trading 16.5% higher before settling at 14% at 6,376.68.

AP News - The dollar fell sharply against the Japanese yen overnight, gaining 0.6% to 160.61 yen after dropping more than 2.4%.

AP News - The Bank of Japan opted to keep interest rates unchanged as it wrapped up a policymaking meeting.

AP News - Brent crude was down 1.3% to $85.76 per barrel, while benchmark U.S. crude was down 1.5% to $82.32 a barrel.

AP News - The S&P 500 gained 1.7% to 7,437.63, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.2% to 52,208.06, and the Nasdaq composite rose 2.8% to 25,122.18.

AP News - The Kospi index remains well below the peak of over 9,000 that it hit in June.

AP News - Microsoft’s shares soared 15.5% for its best day in nearly 18 years.

CNBC - Apple’s fiscal third-quarter revenue topped expectations, helped by a 22% jump in iPhone sales.

CNBC - The 30-year Treasury yield climbed 6 basis points Wednesday to above 5.2%, hovering near its highest level since 2007.

AP News - The dollar fell sharply against the Japanese yen overnight, gaining 0.6% to 160.61 yen after dropping more than 2.4%.

AP News - South Korea’s Kospi index jumped more than 16%, reaching a peak of 16.5% before settling at 14% at 6,376.68.

AP News - Samsung Electronics shares surged 21%, while SK Hynix shares soared 24.6%.

AP News - The Kospi index had previously dropped more than 17% in three days.

AP News - Microsoft’s shares increased by 15.5% after reporting stronger-than-expected profits.

CNBC - Nasdaq futures rose 0.9%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased by 0.39%, and S&P 500 futures inched up 0.38%.

CNBC - Amazon surged more than 9% after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter revenue.

CNBC - Microsoft jumped 16% after posting stronger-than-expected Azure cloud growth.

CNBC - The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) climbed more than 8%.

WHERE:

Bloomberg Markets - South Korea's Kospi index.

AP News - Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 4.4% in early trading to 64,572.25.

AP News - South Korea, Wall Street, Tokyo, Japan.

CNBC - New York City, South Korea, Asia.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The investment plan is set to occur after a rout in tech stocks.

AP News - The Kospi index surge occurred on a Friday.

CNBC - The trading session referenced occurred on July 30, 2026.

WHY:

Bloomberg Markets - The rebound in South Korean stocks was fueled by major technology firms’ spending plans, which refueled optimism on the artificial intelligence trade.

Yahoo Finance - The four hyperscalers (Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet) forecast spending $720 billion to $745 billion cumulatively on capital projects in 2026.

Bloomberg Markets - The volatility in South Korea’s stock market has been attributed to significant fluctuations in investor sentiment and market conditions.

AP News - Analysts suggested that the suspected intervention in support of the yen may have been timed to pre-empt speculative moves linked to the central bank’s decisions.

AP News - The surge in the Kospi index followed Microsoft’s report of stronger-than-expected profits, signaling that AI investments are yielding returns.

CNBC - The market rebound was fueled by upbeat earnings from Amazon and Microsoft, reinforcing investor confidence in AI spending.

HOW:

Fast Company - The surge in chip manufacturers' shares was attributed to strong earnings reports from Microsoft, Amazon, and Lam Research, indicating continued strong chip demand.

AP News - Analysts noted that intervention in support of the yen may not work any better now than it has previously, but the persistence of Japanese authorities suggests the yen will remain around the 160 level this year before staging a more sustained rebound next year.

AP News - Traders returned to the market to buy shares in tech companies after a period of selling due to concerns over an AI bubble and competition.

AP News - The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate unchanged, contributing to market volatility.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 15:39 UTC)

South Korea is set to inject 20 trillion won, or about $13.9 billion, into its sovereign wealth fund for strategic investments in AI, data centers, and infrastructure following a recent downturn in tech stocks. This move comes as shares of major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix surged significantly, with increases of 26.81% and 29.95%, respectively, while the Kospi index has experienced volatility nearly double that of Japan’s Nikkei 225. The rebound in South Korean stocks has been driven by optimistic spending plans from major technology firms, bolstered by strong earnings reports from Microsoft, Amazon, and Lam Research, highlighting the ongoing demand for chips.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 14:43 UTC)

South Korea's Kospi index saw a remarkable jump of nearly 18% on Friday, with shares of Samsung and SK Hynix soaring by 26.81% and 29.95%, respectively, driven by strong earnings reports from major tech companies. In other tech news, Amazon Web Services reported a 37% increase in net sales, marking its fastest growth since 2021, while Microsoft’s Azure cloud services surpassed $100 billion in revenue for the first time. Additionally, Microsoft 365 Copilot has now exceeded 30 million paid seats, and Lam Research's revenue rose over 15% from the previous quarter, fueled by ongoing demand for AI technology.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 13:30 UTC)

The Kospi index opened with a remarkable surge, trading 16.5% higher before settling at a 14% gain, reaching 6,376.68. In the tech sector, Amazon's stock jumped more than 9% after exceeding second-quarter revenue expectations, while Microsoft saw a 16% increase thanks to strong Azure cloud growth. Meanwhile, analysts predict that the four major tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft, will collectively spend between $720 billion and $745 billion on capital projects in 2026.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 12:34 UTC)

The Kospi index in South Korea has experienced significant volatility, reaching levels topping sixty percent, which is nearly double that of Japan's Nikkei 225. This turbulence in the South Korean stock market has been linked to major fluctuations in investor sentiment and overall market conditions. As investors react to changing circumstances, the landscape remains unpredictable.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 11:44 UTC)

The Kospi index opened with a remarkable surge, trading 16.5% higher before settling at a 14% gain, reaching 6,376.68. Meanwhile, the dollar fell sharply against the Japanese yen, gaining 0.6% to 160.61 yen after a drop of more than 2.4%, as the Bank of Japan decided to keep interest rates unchanged. In U.S. markets, the S&P 500 rose by 1.7% to 7,437.63, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1.2% to 52,208.06, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.8% to 25,122.18.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 07:53 UTC)

Microsoft's shares surged by an impressive 15.5%, marking its best day in nearly 18 years, while Apple reported fiscal third-quarter revenue that exceeded expectations, driven by a remarkable 22% increase in iPhone sales. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose by 4.4% in early trading, reaching 64,572.25, as analysts pointed to a suspected intervention to support the yen, which had recently fallen sharply against the dollar. Meanwhile, the 30-year Treasury yield climbed 6 basis points to above 5.2%, remaining near its highest level since 2007.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 06:06 UTC)

In a significant market rebound, South Korea’s Kospi index surged more than 16%, ultimately settling at 6,376.68, following strong earnings reports from major companies like Microsoft and Amazon. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw impressive gains, with shares rising 21% and 24.6% respectively, while Microsoft jumped 15.5% after announcing better-than-expected profits. The positive momentum extended to Wall Street, where Nasdaq futures rose 0.9% and the iShares Semiconductor ETF climbed over 8%, as traders returned to tech stocks amid renewed confidence in AI investments.