Korea Hot Stocks-Memory chip plays rally on Elpida report

SEOUL, Jan 18 (Reuters) - As of 0117 GMT, the main KOSPI was up 0.47 percent at 2,109.63 points. The index opened up 0.19 percent at 2,095.85 points. Stocks on the move on Tuesday include: **MEMORY CHIP ISSUES RALLY ON ELPIDA REPORT** Memory chip makers Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Hynix Semiconductor Inc advanced firmly after the Nikkei business daily reported that Japan's Elpida Memory Inc planned to raise prices of DRAM chips used in personal computers by about 10 percent as early as this month. Samsung Electronics, the world's No.1 memory chip maker, rose 2.21 percent to 970,000 won after hitting a fresh historical high of 972,000 won.

Hynix Semiconductor, the world's No.2 memory chip maker, advanced 3.5 percent. "The report of Elpia's price rise plan points to similar moves by domestic memory chip makers and strengthens sentiment towards the sector," said Daewoo Securities analyst James Song. "DRAM prices are expected to continue to recover this year." 0117 GMT (Reporting by Jungyoun Park; Editing by Chris Lewis) ((jungyoun.park@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5643; Reuters Messaging: jungyoun.park.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS KOREA HOT/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved.

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