SK Chemicals shares rose 14.71% to 50,300 won by 2:44 p.m. on Aug. 14 after the company posted second-quarter results that comfortably beat expectations. Consolidated revenue was 745.1 billion won ($539 million) and operating profit was 32.3 billion won, far ahead of the 700 million won operating loss forecast compiled by FnGuide. On a standalone basis, revenue was 479.1 billion won and operating profit was 31.9 billion won, marking the highest quarterly revenue since the company was spun off as an operating company in 2017. Green chemicals led the improvement as higher copolyester and monomer volumes and selling prices lifted segment operating profit to 24.4 billion won, while SK Bioscience's operating loss narrowed to 15.7 billion won and SK Multi Utility swung to profit as the system marginal price rose and new power sales began in a distributed energy special zone. Samsung Securities forecast third-quarter operating profit of 30.7 billion won, above the 25.9 billion won market consensus, but cut its target price to 68,000 won from 80,000 won because of weaker sentiment toward chemicals stocks and a wider net asset value discount.