For Tech Bulls, Samsung Puts Korea Back on the Map: Taking Stock

(Bloomberg) -- As Samsung Electronics Co. unveils the next generation of its smartphones Wednesday, investors will no doubt be looking for a better showing from the mobile giant after a difficult 2018.

Based on the hot start from Samsung shares, they already seem to be counting on South Korea’s biggest stock to succeed. It has surged 21 percent so far in 2019, recovering almost all of its 24 percent plunge from last year.

The gains have propelled the benchmark Kospi Index to a more than 9 percent advance this year, one of the best jumps in the region amid a wider rally thanks to growing optimism of a U.S.-China trade deal. On Wednesday, the South Korean benchmark was one of the biggest gainers among national gauges in Asia.

Also Read: Samsung cuts back on semiconductor spending as profits shrink

Foreign investors are the biggest buyers of Samsung stock this year, already gobbling up a net 2.76 trillion won ($2.46 billion) of shares, the most of any company in the Kospi, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Domestic institutions and individuals, meanwhile, are net sellers.

Given Samsung’s size -- the stock accounts for about a fifth of the Korean benchmark -- the buying has been a key contributor to total foreign inflows of more than $4.1 billion for the market this year. That’s the most among Asian countries after China.

The tech behemoth is not the only stock off to a quick start in Korea. Rival SK Hynix Inc. has actually climbed even more, with a 25 percent advance this year as a plan to boost dividends 50 percent offset disappointing earnings in January.

The pair were the biggest drivers of the Kospi Wednesday, pushing the index to its highest level since October and helping lead a third straight advance for the regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index. Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan also gained, while the Shanghai Composite Index was flat.

Also Read: From brutal year to stellar start, tech stocks now Asia darlings

Traders are still digesting the latest headlines on the trade negotiation front. The U.S. is asking China to keep the of the yuan stable, a move aimed at neutralizing any effort by Beijing to de its currency to counter American tariffs, according to people familiar with the ongoing talks. Negotiations resumed Tuesday in Washington, with the March 1 deadline looming next week.

Stock-Market Summary

• MSCI Asia Pacific Index up 0.7%
• Japan’s Topix index up 0.4%; Nikkei 225 up 0.6%
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index up 1%; Hang Seng China Enterprises up 1%; Shanghai Composite up 0.2%; CSI 300 up 0.4%
• Taiwan’s Taiex index up 1.2%
• South Korea’s Kospi index up 1.1%; Kospi 200 up 1.2%
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 down 0.2%; New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 up 0.3%
• India’s S&P BSE Sensex Index up 0.6%; NSE Nifty 50 up 0.7%
• Singapore’s Straits Times Index up 0.6%; Malaysia’s KLCI up 1.1%; Philippine Stock Exchange Index up 1.3%; Jakarta Composite up 0.3%; Thailand’s SET up 0.4%; Vietnam’s VN Index up 0.6%
• S&P 500 e-mini futures little changed after index closed up 0.1% in last session

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