South Korean Stocks Jump at Open as Investors Await Meta Earnings Amid AI Worries

South Korean equities opened higher as investors positioned ahead of Meta Platforms' upcoming earnings report, with the move occurring despite lingering concerns about the capital intensity of artificial intelligence spending across the large-cap technology complex. The rally in the KOSPI reflects a transmission channel running through global semiconductor and AI hardware demand, since Korean index heavyweights are closely tied to memory chip and component supply chains that benefit from hyperscaler capital expenditure. Assets most exposed to the outcome include META itself, where the market is weighing whether revenue growth can justify elevated AI infrastructure outlays, as well as Korean chipmakers whose valuations are sensitive to any shift in spending guidance from major U.S. platforms. Traders will watch Meta's forward capex guidance and commentary on AI monetization in the earnings release, since any upward revision to infrastructure spending would likely reinforce demand expectations for Korean semiconductor exporters while any signal of moderation could reverse the early gains.

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