PRE-MARKET JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: NVIDIA’s (NVDA) Vera Rubin chip may use both SK Hynix (000660 KS) and Samsung (005930 KS) HBM3 technologies

Idemitsu Kosan (5019 JT) - Co. has notified business partners that it may stop ethylene production in Japan if the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz continues to prevent raw material imports from the Middle East. (Nikkei)

Takashimaya (8233 JT) - Co. is focusing on overseas markets as a key driver of its medium- to long-term growth and plans to open a commercial complex in Hanoi in 2027, marking its first new overseas retail presence in nine years. (Nikkei)

Tech - Japan’s government plans to target USD 254bln in domestic semiconductor sales by 2040 as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s chip industry. (Nikkei)

Rare Earths - Japan will provide technological support to Malaysia in rare-earth minerals to help strengthen supply chains for critical materials. (Nikkei)

Japanese Trade Minister Akazawa said Japan requested that the US exempt it from the planned tariff increase from 10% to 15%, following a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Lutnick. It was also reported that Japan is said to be considering JPY 15tln for a second US investment project and that the government approached Japan Display (6740 JT) about operating a USD 13bln cutting-edge factory in the US as part of the USD 550bln investment package. (Newswires)

Doosan Enerbility (034020 KS) - Co. said it has won an order from a US company to supply seven 380-megawatt-class gas turbines for a data centre project. (Yonhap)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. worker unions will start voting this week on whether to conduct an 18-day strike over higher pay. (Newswires)

SK Innovation (096770 KS) - Co.’s battery unit SK On is laying off nearly 1,000 workers at its Georgia battery plant amid an electric-vehicle slowdown. (Yonhap)

Tech - NVIDIA’s (NVDA) Vera Rubin chip may use both SK Hynix (000660 KS) and Samsung (005930 KS) HBM3 technologies. (Newswires)

South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim said the US is unlikely to impose the previously threatened 25% tariffs on South Korea if the Korean parliament move swiftly to ratify the investment legislation in the week ahead. (Newswires)