Intel taps former SK hynix CEO to ride on AI wave SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - Intel, seeking to reverse years of decline in the AI era after losing its semiconductor crown, has appointed former SK hynix and SK On chief Lee Seok-hee to lead key foundry operations that the company views as its quickest route back to growth. Lee was named executive vice president of Intel Foundry and will report directly to CEO Lip-Bu Tan, overseeing advanced packaging, system integration, and back-end technology development and manufacturing. The app June 19, 2026

Cash stays on its toes to ride stock rally and higher rates in Korea SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) -Cash set aside for stock investments has surged and money parked in instantly accessible accounts remains elevated, underscoring the depth of fear of missing out in a stock market whose benchmark index has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. Households and companies are moving cash in and out of bank accounts at the fastest pace in a decade, favoring flexible, short-term deposits over long-term savings as a record-breaking stock market rally re June 18, 2026

KOSPI closes above 9,000 for first time as chip rally sweeps Asia SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea's KOSPI closed above the 9,000 mark for the first time on Thursday as semiconductor stocks rallied across North Asia, lifting markets in Seoul and Tokyo while Chinese chipmakers outperformed a weaker broader market. The KOSPI gained 199.60 points, or 2.2 percent, to close at a record 9,063.8. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.6 percent to 71,053.4, while China's Shanghai Composite traded around 4,092, down about 0.4 percent. The surge was dr June 18, 2026

KOSPI runs toward new threshold of 9,000, Nikkei hits fresh high SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea's monthly renewal of four-digit KOSPI headlines continued Thursday, with the benchmark index running toward the 9,000-point threshold as investors shrugged off an unexpectedly hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve meeting overnight and doubled down on semiconductor and artificial intelligence plays. As of 10:30 a.m., the KOSPI stood at 8,920.98, up 0.64 percent, after climbing as high as 8,975.52 earlier in the session, a fresh intraday record and withi June 18, 2026

Fed's tightening signal barely dents Asian rally SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - The U.S. Federal Reserve's signal of joining a global tightening path to contain post-war inflation went largely unnoticed in Asia, where markets remained engrossed in AI fever and the prospect of the Strait of Hormuz reopening. Seoul authorities assessed the Fed's decision as part of a broader shift among major central banks toward tighter monetary policy, following recent rate increases by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan. Markets r June 18, 2026

Won, bonds stay quiet as BOJ risk fades, Fed decision looms SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s currency and bond markets remained calm Wednesday as investors looked past the Bank of Japan’s rate hike and shifted their attention to the Federal Reserve’s first policy decision under Chair Kevin Warsh. The won’s market average rate strengthened 5.3 won to 1,514.75 per dollar, showing limited volatility despite Tuesday’s BOJ decision to raise interest rates to 1 percent for the first time in 31 years. Korean gov June 17, 2026

FSS warns against leveraged bets as Samsung, SK hynix ETFs amplify market swings SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) — Leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix now account for nearly a third of trading in the two stocks, amplifying swings in South Korea's benchmark index and prompting an emergency warning from financial regulators. The Financial Supervisory Service on Wednesday convened investment banks, securities firms, asset managers and market researchers to warn against concentrated bets on a handful of stocks and excessive use of leverage, sayi June 17, 2026

KOSPI extends rally as SK hynix tops 2.5 Million won for first time SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI extended its gains Wednesday as investors rotated into semiconductors, power-cable shares and biotechnology, even as foreign investors turned heavy sellers on the main bourse. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 1.6 percent at 8,864.24, after moving between an intraday high of 8,872.18 and a low of 8,605.66. Foreign investors sold 1 trillion won worth of shares on the main bourse, while institutions bought 581.9 billion won ($384. June 17, 2026

Musk mania survives IPO miss as Koreans pour $800 million on SpaceX debut SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - An Elon Musk-linked stock has once again become a favorite among South Korean retail investors. Despite missing out on SpaceX’s initial public offering, Korean individual investors poured more than $800 million into the company on its Nasdaq debut, making the space company one of the most aggressively bought foreign stocks in Korean market history. According to data compiled from 11 brokerages, including Mirae Asset Securities, Korea Investment & June 17, 2026

Asia markets sideline ahead of Fed decision, Nikkei sole gainer SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korea's main index took a light breather after a nonstop four-day rally of more than 12 percent as foreign investors turned sellers ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision. As of 10:30 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI stood at 8,703.90, down 0.3 percent from the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 8,727.58 and a low of 8,605.66. Foreign investors turned sellers after three consecutive sessions of buying, offloa June 17, 2026