South Korea's KOSPI is rising more than 2 percent in early trade, helped by a rebound in heavyweight semiconductor shares. Ahead of Samsung Electronics' preliminary second-quarter earnings release due the next day, investor sentiment toward chip stocks appears to be partly recovering.

As of 9:08 a.m. on the 6th, the KOSPI was up 169.54 points, or 2.10 percent, from the previous session at 8,257.88.

The index opened up 98.48 points, or 1.22 percent, at 8,186.82 and rose as high as 8,272.58 during the session. The intraday low is 8,080.08.

In the main board market, individuals are net buyers of 493.2 billion won. Foreigners and institutions are net sellers of 356.1 billion won and 157.5 billion won, respectively.

Among top market-cap stocks, semiconductor shares are strong. Samsung Electronics was trading at 322,000 won, up 12,500 won, or 4.04 percent, from the previous session. SK Hynix was up 42,000 won, or 1.73 percent, at 2,467,000 won.

SK Square, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung C&T were also higher. Hyundai Motor, LG Energy Solution and Samsung Biologics were weaker.

The Kosdaq also opened higher. At the same time, the Kosdaq was up 3.67 points, or 0.42 percent, at 872.08.

Early in the session, the won-dollar exchange rate was 1,536.90 won per dollar, up 7.90 won, or 0.52 percent, from the previous session.

Brokerages see Samsung Electronics' preliminary second-quarter earnings release scheduled for the next day as a key variable for domestic stocks this week.

With chip shares recently shaken by worries about a slowdown in artificial intelligence (AI) demand and debate over a peak in the memory market cycle, analysts say the earnings release could be a turning point for whether investor sentiment recovers.

Ji-young Han (한지영), an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said changes in investor sentiment toward chip shares and the durability of sector rotation are expected to remain top market priorities this week. She added it would be appropriate to set a baseline scenario in which Samsung Electronics' preliminary results foster market relief rather than a sell-on response.