The world has just gained three more trillion-dollar companies.

Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix have all reached the $1 trillion market capitalization milestone. Photo: Reuters .

On May 27 (local time), SK Hynix (South Korea) surpassed the $1 trillion market capitalization mark for the first time as a wave of investment related to artificial intelligence (AI) continued to drive up semiconductor stock prices, according to Reuters.

In the latest trading session, SK Hynix shares surged 14.9%, pushing the South Korean chipmaker's market capitalization to a record high of 1.68 trillion won (approximately $1.12 trillion ).

Previously, domestic rival Samsung surpassed the $1 trillion market capitalization mark for the first time on May 6th, while Micron, listed in the US, reached this milestone on May 26th. Micron shares closed on May 26th up 17.4% at $881.6 per share, after briefly surging as much as 19.3% during the trading session. According to LSEG data, the main driving force came from UBS raising its price target for the stock from $535 to $1,625 , the highest forecast among the 46 institutions tracking Micron.

Notably, thanks to the leadership of Samsung and SK Hynix, the KOSPI index surged by 5.09%, reaching an all-time high of 8,457 points. This exceptionally strong increase triggered a temporary halt to algorithmic trading to limit excessive volatility.

Following this price surge, Samsung and SK Hynix account for approximately 50% of the total market capitalization of the KOSPI index. South Korea is considered one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global AI wave, with the KOSPI index rising 91% year-to-date, after increasing 76% in the previous year.

On the other hand, the world's leading chip manufacturers are benefiting from the surge in demand for high-end memory chips used in AI processors, such as those designed by Nvidia. This is causing supply shortages and driving up prices.

In the first quarter, memory chip prices doubled compared to the previous period and are projected to continue rising by up to 63% in the current quarter. Demand from AI data centers is tightening supply for smartphones, laptops, and the automotive industry, while helping memory chip manufacturers record record profits.

Kim Young-gun, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities in Seoul, expects demand for memory chips to continue exceeding supply at least until 2028, thus maintaining high price levels.

Recognizing the benefits that the AI wave is bringing, individual investors in the US have also poured billions of dollars into a new ETF, giving them access to Samsung and SK Hynix shares.

Meanwhile, South Korea's first single-equity leveraged ETFs linked to Samsung and SK Hynix surged on their opening day, posting double-digit gains driven by a breakout in semiconductor stocks.

According to local media, the website of the Korea Financial Investment Association, which provides mandatory online courses for individual investors wishing to trade leveraged ETFs, experienced a brief disruption on May 27 due to a surge in traffic.

Industry experts see the $1 trillion market capitalization milestone not only as demonstrating the increasing importance of memory chips in AI infrastructure, but also as reflecting a broader shift in AI investment flows. After a period of intense focus on graphics processing unit (GPU) manufacturers, investors are now seeking businesses that can directly benefit from the massive spending plans of major technology corporations on AI infrastructure.

Currently, only three Asian companies have joined the club of companies with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion , including TSMC. South Korea has also become the first country outside the US to have more than one company reach this market capitalization level.

Source: https://znews.vn/the-gioi-vua-co-them-3-cong-ty-nghin-ty-usd-post1654616.html