South Korean equities jump sharply to record levels on Friday, with multiple outlets reporting a record one-day gain after a recent period of steep declines. The rally is attributed to renewed optimism around the artificial intelligence (AI) trade and renewed expectations for technology spending by major global firms. Bloomberg reports the market rises by about 15%, while other sources cite a larger move of around 17% for the day, reflecting differences in how gains are measured or reported. A central driver is the country’s chip sector, with SK hynix singled out across reports. Shares of SK hynix surge dramatically, with one outlet reporting an advance of more than 27%, underscoring the market’s focus on AI-related memory and semiconductor demand. The news coverage also characterizes the move as a broad global technology rebound, as tech stocks recover from an extended sell-off earlier this week. Overall, the reports portray a fast rebound led by AI optimism and chipmakers’ expected role in ongoing investment cycles.