South Korean semiconductor and secondary battery makers saw their shares climb on Wednesday, tracking gains in U.S. tech stocks and renewed optimism over trade tensions between the United States and China.

Samsung Electronics Co. shares rose as much as 1.73 percent in stock price to 55,950 won ($39.15) a share, SK Hynix Inc. shares gained 3.45 percent to 179,800 won, and HANMI Semiconductor Co. shares advanced 4.14 percent.

The rally followed overnight comments by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent at a private investor summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by JPMorgan Chase, suggesting easing tariff tensions with China. Investors see the remarks as a positive signal for global tech trade.

“No one thinks the current status quo is sustainable,” with tariff rates at their current levels, he said.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s after-hours surge on Wall Street gave Korean battery-related stocks a boost after CEO Elon Musk said during the company’s earnings call for the first quarter of 2025 that he would start to pull back his work with the U.S. government and return his focus to Tesla operations in May.

LG Energy Solution Ltd. shares jumped 3.46 percent to 343,500 won a share. Samsung SDI Co. added 4.12 percent while Posco Future M Co., Lotte Energy Materials Corp, and SK innovation Co. saw their shares climb between 2.5 percent and 6.4 percent.

Tesla shares were up more than 4 percent in New York. Musk said he would significantly cut back the time he devotes to the Trump administration from May 2025 onwards and spend more time running his companies.

Samsung Electric shares closed at 55,700 won, and SK hynix shares closed at 181,000 won, while LG Energy Solution shares closed at 349,000 won.

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지]