Group 1: Market Performance - The Asia-Pacific markets experienced a collective rise, with Japan and South Korea's stock markets showing significant gains on September 22 [1][2] - The KOSPI index in South Korea reached a new historical high, peaking at 3481.96 points, with a rise of over 1% [2] - The Nikkei 225 index in Japan also increased by more than 1%, reflecting strong performance in the semiconductor sector [1][2] Group 2: Company Highlights - Samsung Electronics saw its stock price increase by over 4%, with its market capitalization surpassing 490 trillion won, following reports of successful testing of its HBM3E chip products by NVIDIA [2] - Analysts from Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have reiterated their buy ratings on Samsung Electronics, with target prices set at 110,000 won and 97,000 won respectively [2] - The semiconductor sector in South Korea reported a 27% increase in exports for the first 20 days of September, continuing the momentum from August's 30% growth [2] Group 3: Economic Context - The South Korean government reported a 10.6% year-on-year decline in export amounts for the first 20 days of September, with adjustments made for working days [2] - The U.S. has imposed a 15% tariff on South Korean goods, increasing pressure on exporters, although smartphones and laptops remain exempt [3] - Ongoing trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. are facing challenges, particularly regarding tariff agreements and investment commitments [3][4] Group 4: Japan's Economic Developments - The Japanese stock market saw significant gains, with the Nikkei 225 index rising nearly 1.3%, driven by strong performances from semiconductor companies [4][5] - The Bank of Japan announced plans to gradually reduce its holdings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), indicating increased confidence in the economic outlook [5] - The upcoming leadership election within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to address key issues such as high prices and cooperation with opposition parties [5]

Group 1: Market Performance - The Asia-Pacific markets experienced a collective rise, with Japan and South Korea's stock markets showing significant gains on September 22, 2023 [1][4] - The South Korean KOSPI index reached a new historical high, peaking at 3481.96 points, with a rise of over 1% during the session [2] - The Nikkei 225 index in Japan also saw an increase of over 1.3%, with notable gains in semiconductor stocks such as LASERTEC and Renesas Electronics [4][5] Group 2: Company Highlights - Samsung Electronics' stock rose over 4%, pushing its market capitalization above 490 trillion won, following reports of successful testing of its HBM3E chip products by NVIDIA [2] - Citigroup analyst Peter Lee expects the certification results for Samsung's HBM3E chips to be announced by the end of September or early October, predicting benefits from the recovery of HBM competitiveness and rising memory product prices [2] - Morgan Stanley raised its target price for Samsung Electronics from 86,000 won to 97,000 won while maintaining a buy rating [2] Group 3: Economic Data and Trade Relations - South Korea's exports for the first 20 days of September showed a year-on-year decline of 10.6%, while semiconductor exports grew by 27%, continuing the 30% increase from August [2][3] - The U.S. imposed a 15% tariff on South Korean goods, increasing pressure on exporters, although smartphones and laptops remain exempt [3] - Ongoing trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. face challenges, particularly regarding tariffs and investment agreements, with South Korea seeking to resolve these issues promptly [3][4] Group 4: Central Bank Actions - The Bank of Japan announced plans to gradually reduce its substantial ETF holdings, indicating increased confidence in the economic outlook despite ongoing challenges [5][6] - The planned annual reduction of approximately 330 billion yen (around 2.2 billion USD) in ETF holdings suggests a cautious approach to avoid market volatility [6]