The value of self-share acquisitions and disposals reported by listed companies reached approximately 101.9217 trillion Korean won from January through October this year, up 467.33% from 17.9652 trillion won in the same period last year, the Korea Exchange said on November 1. KOSPI companies accounted for 100.6006 trillion won, a 494.78% increase, while KOSDAQ companies recorded 1.5207 trillion won, up 40.22%. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix drove the increase. Samsung Electronics acquired approximately 15 trillion won of its own shares, while SK Hynix completed a 40 trillion won acquisition and is pursuing an additional 20 trillion won purchase. The two companies’ reported self-share acquisitions totaled approximately 82 trillion won, or 80% of all listed-company self-share acquisition and disposal reports. Share buybacks, which reduce the number of shares circulating in the market, are a common shareholder-return policy and can support stock prices by reducing supply. Both companies are pursuing the purchases as part of their shareholder-return policies.