Woofun AI reports that South Korea's KOSPI index closed up approximately 1%, marking a cumulative gain of about 10% for the first half of the year. Driven by demand for AI memory chips, the index repeatedly set new cyclical highs and touched an all-time high of 9385. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose approximately 180% and 310% year-to-date, respectively.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index accumulated gains of around 40% this year, supported by corporate reforms and the semiconductor supply chain. The Topix index is up approximately 17%. Tech stocks led the rally, with Advantest rising about 65% and Tokyo Electron surging over 120% year-to-date.