Samsung Electro-Mechanics' 7% increase is suspicious; the narrative around AI chip components is starting to materialize.

On Friday, the South Korean stock market rose slightly, with the KOSPI closing at 7,848.86 points, up 0.43%, an increase of 33.27 points for the day. Technology stocks drove the index to climb over 8% at one point; however, foreign investors continued to sell net for the 12th consecutive day. Semiconductor leader Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix retreated, falling 1.75% and 0.05%, respectively. Auto stocks declined, with Hyundai Motor down 1.8% and Kia 1.61%. Samsung Electro-Mechanics surged 7.23 against the trend, reportedly due to signing an AI chip component supply agreement with a U.S. company. Doosan Energy rose 3.97%, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries increased 1.79%.